editorial: Molly

MOLLY.

Jen (photog extraordinaire) and i found ourselves down at the Shelby Bottoms a few weeks ago with Molly.  I love the bottoms, slightly overgrown with a giant, somewhat rusty, train trestle running through it.   So amidst the baseball diamonds and evening bikers/runners/dogwalkers/hipsters we captured a few gorgeous moments.   

I had so much fun with these girls... Mollys skin is beautiful and the shape of her lips screams for bright colors!   Throw that in with those insane brown eyes and killer ombre... well... just see for yourself.

xox.  may you fall in love with the daily beauty around you everytime you open up your eyes. 

Mistakes are beautiful

playing around is the most fun. 

The most amazing part of this process is making "mistakes". 

With applying techniques i have been using for years, i usually start messing around and stumble upon (read: make a mistake)  a new way to get a similar look that i can THEN use in future applications.

At first I'm usually frustrated, then later (after a deep breath and realizing i didn't actually ruin my last HOUR of work) i realize that I've found a great new way to make something marvelous. 

Mistakes really are beautiful.

now theres just that pesky part of trying to keep this way of thinking in everything i do.. 

Deep violet lips with a navy ombre 

Makeup Forever Flash Pallet mixing colors and textures

I dont want to post the whole photo because its going to show up in shoot soon, so you'll have to be patient. 

Be free. Make Mistakes. Get Messy. 

xox

Photoshoot: Behind the Scenes w Carden Ave

Beautiful brisk spring day?

check.

Beautiful model?

check.

Beautiful jewelry?

check.

Amazing photographer?

check. 

All around wonderful humans to work with?

triple check. 

This was the Carden Ave Jewelry shoot... In every way it was stupendious.

we made it through 8 looks that day, by the end of it i was inspired to keep creating.

These are the best days!

The shoot was for their website CARDEN AVENUE which just debuted a few days ago.

The Stylist: Priya Mani
The Photographer: Ashley Hylbert
HMU: me!

Here are a few behind the scene shots
and a few of my favorites that didn't make it to the site...

KEVIN MURPHY, oh how i love thee.

love everything about his photo. Her cheeks, he hair... le sigh.

This was one of our last shots and i think it sums up the day to perfection.

xox. 

cheers, nml

Kit organization: lipstick edition

There is nothing more annoying than knowing the lip color I want to use and having to go through, tube by tube, to open or read the bottom.

For that reason I went to JoAnn Fabrics and bought this bead organizer.

Then I cut the lipsticks with a pallet knife and packed them into the container.

Labeled the bottom (gotta remember the colors, duh)

And popped them into their new home..

The best part? Not only can I see every color and how it reflects light, but I can individually pop them out and toss them in my set bag for touch ups!











Et viola!!

xox
- nml

fx and california

[where] California. 

[who] Erin Wooldridge.

[when] March 2013

In life, i have found, that when something is supposed to happen you just relax into it and let it. 

Thats what happened with March. 

Through my beautiful Tattoo Artist [Laura Sadaati - at Music City Tattoo] i met Erin Wooldridge, Makeup Artist.   Erin has my dream job.  Makeup Artist for film and television.  She is incredibly talented and experienced... she also happens to be an incredible Human... 

She invited me out to take a one on one workshop with her, we chatted and she showed me so many tricks and basics and just STUFF you need to know to make it in this business.  I am beyond grateful for the time i got to spend with her. 

[Things i learned]

- Blood work

- Bruising

- Product knowledge

- Cuts

- Dirt/

- Element/Environment looks

- Tattoo cover

- Body Makeup

- Bondo Scars/bullet holes

- Male Makeup

- Old Age

- Airbrush

- Beauty, i learned some secrets [shh!]

- Beards/Hair work

I only snapped a few post-able photos during my time there, it was a lot of learning but so SO fulfilling. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. 

My thanks go out to Erin... you're a magical human, THANK YOU. 

until next time. 

xox

n. 

Things are changing

guys, i have so many ideas.. my brain is about to explode.  

SO just get excited because im making videos and playing with some new products...

things to look forward to in the future:

• Video Tutorials
• Product reviews
• Pretty sweet ideas 
• A whole lot of sweet ideas

mk bye! we'll talk soon

peaches of your cheeks

dust a little peach on the apples of your cheeks and what do you get?

cheek peaches!

... yeah, i know thats weird...
but ive had people pinching and talking about my cheeks since before i can remember.  So i figured while i had an hour to kill today, i would throw some peach on and get my camera out..

its simple!
you need a super soft (this is pure European Pine Squirrel) medium brush from London Brush Company... im obsessed with it.  The size makes it perfect for control and blending.

then you get a blush.. this is from a generic pallet i got a few years ago and i honestly love it, but have no idea what the colors are called.  I chose a peachy bronze.  I am pretty pale, this warms me up a tad and blends nice with the warm peach tones.

then you smile.. and blend it on your cheek peaches.  (ha, i am still giggling when i type that) dont worry about getting too much, in this case if you're using powder you can blend it out, thats the beauty of a great natural soft hair brush.  Plus the dome shape really helps with control.
Blend until you're happy... i blended a little onto my brow bone to mimic how the sun hits my face.

ET VOILA!

only one side of my face is done, and i feel peached and bronzed.. well half way.
either way, i hope you learned something and have a peachy day.
peach
peach
peach...
how many times can one use the word peach in a day?

... peach, love and happiness, darlings.

nichole marie