Lotion, Sunscreen, and Toothpaste! Oh My!

photo via Kelsey Erin Photography

I know I mention it quite a bit, but I love my city. San Diego is the best, like EVER!! While visiting our most favoritist farmers market, the Little Italy Mercato, I found my super hip sister-in-law found the coolest skincare vendor and made my day week month year. What can I say!? Skincare makes me giddy and The Holistic Science Co. is the bomb dot com. I am so obsessed with their products, their ohhhh-so-many products. Natural toothpastes, mouthwash, lotions, sunscreens, and so on and so forth!!! All of the products are handmade in San Diego by the majorly cool Holistic Science team. Seriously, they are so great. They will spend ages talking to you about their products, why they were developed, what's in them, and how to use them. Every product has a 100% satisfaction guarantee which is magical when you have the most unpredictable skin ever. I have been using the Pure SPF-15 Facial Moisturizer and the Ultra Corrective Facial Cream for a few months now and I am just absolutely loving them! Both products are vegan, #winning. My skin has been so moisturized and glowing since I've started using this regime. My acne still flares up now and again, but it's all hormonal around my chin, so I can deal. The Intense Nourishing Cocoa Butter is so great on my crazy dry legs and helps with my booty stretch marks… what? Girl's got some hips!! They sell at the Little Italy and Hillcrest farmers markets and all of their products are available online. You can also check them out on Twitter and Facebook. I totally suggest that you do!!!!

My Styling Philosophy

I have declared 2014 the year I kick ass. I know people say that every new year, but I am one determined lady. As some of you know, I started lloStyling in 2012 and saw some growth within that, but since starting Blissful Happenings I've found that lloStyling was only the beginning. Blissful Happenings Studio is currently in the works and I'm so excited about what's to come.

During a brainstorming session, I was asked about my style philosophy and how I want that to translate into my business. After much reflection it's quite simple, I think it's important to feel good in your clothes. BOOM!! Is your mind blown?! I know there are a lot of grand notions about style and fashion that make it seem very distant, that it's only for lanky, thin model types, but not for the everyday woman. I don't buy that! Clothes are meant to be fun and a piece from Gap can be just as exciting as something designer if it fits well and is styled properly! That's where I come in!I want to inspire great style in every woman! I want the stay at home mom, the college student, and the business woman to go in their closet and love EVERY piece. I think it's common to think of a Stylist as something only rich people have, a complete luxury, but I am here to flip that idea on it's head. I want to help you rediscover the closet that you currently have! We might say farewell to a few things and I will always suggest new pieces to enhance your wardrobe, but I'm here to maximize what you already own! At the end of the day I want you to feel confident in your clothes! Confidence speaks volumes and I believe it is the key to blissful living. We are fans of bliss around these parts!

If you are need of styling services, hit up the Hire Me page above! And remember, you don't need to be in San Diego, we can do all consults over Skype! Oh the glorious internet! We are working to have a legit site in the next few months and are planning a giveaway here on the blog!! Stay tuned for awesomeness!!

photos via Kelsey Erin Photographer featuring Estela from Weekly Bite

women who rock

So I love my hair stylist. Like LOVE her. Before moving to Cali I had the same stylist for nearly 11 years, my genius sis-in-law, and when I have tried other stylists I've always been terribly disappointed, until I met Meghan… Best. Story. Ever. So The Captain and I had just finished a hike with the dogs and we had stopped by Robeks to pick up smoothies. I went in to grab our drinks and standing in front of me was the most genius hair I have ever seen! So, of course, I had to tell her. Turns out she was a stylist, score! That's how I met Meghan, but the best part is when I got back in the truck The Captain looked bemused and he turns to me and asks, "Did you just get that hot chick's number?" Winning. I've been seeing her for almost 2 years! She is brilliant! Not only is she an ombre master and totally understands the art of the perfect cut, she is an absolutely wonderful human being and a joy to be around!

I’m beyond envious of your killer long locks, what are you go to products? Product!! I am a huge fan of L'Oreal Professional (not to be mistaken with the L'Oreal you will find at your local Target, CVS, etc.) Not only do I believe in their products, but my hair is proof of how truly amazing they are. They have created product lines that not only work well with all hair types to design whatever look want to achieve, but are formulated to repair the hair at the same time! A few go to products that your are going to find in my personal haircare collection are Intense Repair Shampoo and Intense Repair Masque. Pretty much no one can go wrong with these two products. Intense Repair won't weigh the hair down but will be sure to hydrate, repair, and leave your hair smelling amazing every time! Mythic Oil, the original formula for my hair and most anyone else out there is a MUST! Enhanced with avocado oil and grape oil it will nourish and repair the hair with every use. People make the mistake of not using a product to protect their hair from the blow dryer, hot tools or just the environment and Mythic Oil will do that for you without leaving you feeling greasy or weighed down. A day doesn't go by that I don't use Mythic Oil! Then for body and volume, it ranges from Lift Extreme when I need a great root boost, Mousse Volupte when I want beautiful soft body throughout my hair, and Curl Corset when I want that saltwater feel in my hair. Hairspray, every woman needs to own a hairspray, my favorite is Infinium 3, a strong hold working spray. Last when I'm feeling fancy and just want to add some extra shine to my hair without having to touch it (or I would just be using my Mythic Oil) Perfect Shimmer comes in to play! Smells incredible and leave the hair with amazing shine!!

What would you say is your hair philosophy? That's a deep question for me to answer. I'm a passionate person in each and everything I do. It's been important for me to create an environment that reflects who I am, the work that I do, resulting in a place where my clients love to come relax. Working from the private hair studio I opened almost two years ago, has been like a dream. It has allowed me a space where I can find peace, be creative and productive every time I walk in the door. Thus allowing me to create the perfect style and look for each and every one of my clients. Something they can wear everyday, recreate at home, feel beautiful or handsome rocking, and still be practical for their lifestyle! It is important that each one of my clients feels special and taken care of each time they see me.

Is there a common mistake you think women make with their hair? A common mistake woman make with their hair, well... Not taking proper care of their hair is probably number one. That means using professional products and leaving the job to the professionals! Second, trying to wear a style, color, and/or cut that just doesn't flatter their hair type or their features.

What’s your favorite hair trend of the moment? My favorite trend at the moment is probably the one I'm wearing. Enhancing the natural beauty one already has is my favorite! It really reflects my life at the moment as well. Simple, natural, sun kissed, beautiful and easy-going, just like a day the beach!

What’s your definition of sexy?  Sexy is whatever makes a person look and feel their best! If you love the way you look you will feel sexy and people will see and feel that!! Confidence and being true to who you are and what you believe in will scream I am sexy and will make others scream he or she is SEXY too!!

If you are in San Diego she is a must!! Visit her Facebook page for her info!!!

Ladies Gift Guide

It's beginning to look a lot like traffic, rude people, and long lines… That sounds very bah-humbug, but the truth is I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!! Love it, I just can't stand what the holiday season does to so many people, which is why I shop from home. I love purchasing all my holiday delights directly from the internets so that on the rare occasion that I step out into the retail world I'm able to keep a smile on my face and let people go ahead of me in line etc, etc. Moving on, after The Captain's dude list I got a few requests for a gift guide for the girlies!! So here you go!!

1. Love More Tee - I love ScoutMob's super awesome Shoppe that has tons of super cool independent designers and so many must have products. This tee from Arquebus Clothing out of Texas has the coolest shirts and I'm obsessed with this one! And considering how much some retailers try to sell graphic tees for this is a steal of a deal!!!

2. Naked 3 - So I can't wait to get this!! I'm a fan of the original and think that 3 has amazing shades that ARE different than the other 2 palettes, proof here. I think these shades are more subtle than the previous 2, but still have plenty of intensity! Perfect for a NYE bash or just grabbing brunch with friends. Fab.

3. Makeup Brushes - I lalalalove MAC makeup brushes and these sets are an affordable way to get 5 killer brushes. The super cute travel case also makes it very easy to… well, travel with them. Any girly-girl would love to get this set.

4. Rebecca Minkoff bag - This bag is so fab. It's like a fabulous angry Chanel without the 2 grand price tag. Perfect for any fashionista. RM is one of my favorite designers of quality,  affordable handbags and this is a classic!

5. Rose hip & Red clay face mask - I love a good face mask and this company, Beridan Naturals, is one of the coolest brands around. Even their packaging is too cool for school. This pretty pink mask is perfect for cleansing and detoxing trouble skin! While the clay absorbs impurities and toxins, the rose hip powder exfoliates leaving skin smooth and bright. I want everything that they make!!

6. Madewell Tee - This looks so comfy that I can barely stand it. I love a clever gift, but a super soft well-made (see what I did there) tee is a perfect present. It would be great with jeans or maybe even paired with #12.

7. Fox Pillow - Sooo Foxxxxxyyyyyy. This pillow is just the cutest thing that I've ever seen. It's a fox pillow. I don't know why, I love it. So if the lady you are shopping for is a touch quirky this might make the perfect gift… and bonus, it's on sale!!!

8. Kate Spade Planner - I never thought I'd be a Kate Spade girl, but lately I've just loved everything they make. This planner is so fabulous and a perfect gift for the lady who is far too classy to put her important meetings in her iCalander. Plus, gold polka dots are, like, the best thing ever.

9. Diptyque Candle - This is for the chick who literally has everything. I don't ever think to buy myself a pricey, fancy candle, but I can assure you I would flipping love to get one as a gift. I think I'm speaking for most women when I say that. And this one smells of hazelnut, basically fall in a candle. Yes, please.

10. Betsy & Iya Ring - I mentioned my love of this brand before, but I toats love their style! I dig their jewelry and am a big fan of the way they run things! I love buying jewels from small companies because your piece is truly unique. You don't see it on every other person. I found them on Etsy and can't stop buying from them!!

11. Jane Austen Penguin Classics - This is for the book worm. I have a few of these Austen classics, but to get a whole set!? Be still my heart!!! These books are beautiful and look like art work displayed in your home. If your lady has mentioned on more than one occasion her love of Mr. Darcy or Mr. Knightley or Edmund, this is a much purchase.

12. Fancy Skirt - This is so fancy and beautiful and fancy. It would be super funky with a crop top, casual with a chambray shirt, über fancy with a silk top so many options!! Ladies love when their men buy them clothes… perhaps I should specify, ladies love when their men buy them AWESOME clothes. Did I mention it's fancy?

13. Spiralizer - Yes, yes, yes. The health nut in your life will jump for joy over this gadget. It makes zucchini pasta a snap and just in case you're thinking, "what the duck!? I just want regular pasta!!!" It also makes the perfect curly fries!!! Winning.

14. Chloe's Vegan Desserts - Chloe knows what she's doing. She's the only vegan chef to ever win Cupcake Wars, so naturally her dessert book is freaking awesome. Everything is delicious. Everything. Don't get me started on her chocolate chip cookies!!! Perfect for your veggie with a sweet tooth.

15. Global Bread Knife - Yes. A bread knife. What? I want a nice bread knife and Global knives are hands down my favorite. This knife is sexy and it's perfect for cutting up some yummy italian bread, slicing tomatoes, or stabbing the occasional zombie.

Grown Up Prom

[gown] Badgley Mischka [ring] Nordies Rack [necklace] Loft, similar here currently on sale! [earrings] Kate Spade [nail polish] Taboo by Chanel

Military life is not always easy and it's rarely glamourous, but once a year we get to dress up and get all fancy to celebrate the Marine Corps birthday. It's basically Prom for grown ups and it is awesome! Because prom with booze equals crazy good times. It was a blast and we had an amazing time until, like the end to many a great story,  The Captain became belligerently drunk… So the night was fun, they actually had some weird vegan food for me, and bonus, I watched my husband's boss dance to Thrift Shop. Yes, it was pretty brilliant. But the real story here is my killer dress! Rent the Runway you complete me! I can't believe I've waited so long to use this site. What I really can't believe is that I didn't invent this site! GENIUS!!! So in case you have no idea what I'm talking about, Rent the Runway is a site where you can actually rent designer gowns/accessories for special events. Now the real win here is that you can save TONS of money and not be stuck with a dress that you won't ever wear again. This Badgley Mischka was like 80% off of retail! They send you 2 different sizes, so you don't have to worry about one not fitting. For 15 bucks more you can't get a second dress! Magic! You get the dress the day before your event and can keep it for 4 or 8 days. It sounds so daunting, but it's so easy and I will never buy another cocktail dress or black tie gown ever again--- It's perfect for weddings, fancy parties, etc etc. I'm a huge fan. Can't wait to use them again. So dude, someone invite me to something fancy, stat!!!

Women Who Rock

It's that time again!!! And this month we are featuring one of my favorite human beings on the planet Tatum Clark of Tatum Kathleen Photography! You can see her shots all over our site and yes, the word you are looking for is genius. Her charm and humor make her a freaking joy to be around, she can wear a hat like nobodies business and don't get me started on her laugh... it will complete your life!!! And on top of being a wonderful person, she's a brilliant artist who can capture moments like no other photographer I've ever met! And on top of that, she manages to make photo shoots fun! I could literally keep going forever and ever! She recently moved to the East Coast (sadness), but check out her site if you are interested in finding out more about this ah-mazing chick!!!!

What’s your favorite thing to shoot? Boudoir.  Hands down. Helping women look fabulous and feel empowered. It's an incredible thing.

What is the most common mistake folks make during photo shoots? I think the biggest mistake is making it stressful or worrying about it.  Don't sweat the small stuff.  If we are doing a photo shoot on the beach it is guaranteed your 2 year old will eat fists full of sand and 'ruin' their outfit.  They will look adorable regardless. It's ok that you wanted to lose 15 lbs prior to your appointment date (and didn't), you are beautiful just as you are. If your son woke up and decided he would wear NOTHING other than superman underwear and his cape to the photo session. Perfect. Bring him in just like that. I prefer to document the beauty in the imperfect.

Best advice for a nervous boudoir client besides alcohol? Avoid alcohol unless you think your droopy 'i've been drinking' eye lid is sexy. haha  Loving yourself.  Having confidence. That is what sexy is, and it shows in the photos. Remind yourself how fabulous you are, give yourself a slap on the ass, and get out there and 'smize' the shit out of that camera. Make me proud ladies.

What makes a super magical family picture? A magical family photo, in my opinion, is one that conveys the love the family has for one another.  I always end up preferring the family photos that are candid, and in the moment. Everyone who shoots with me knows I'm a sucker for forehead kisses and 'schnuggling'. I want my families holding hands, snuggling, playing, laughing. Just being themselves. 

I am constantly dragging my clients to various 'magic' locations, like the magic TREE!  or this magical ROCK! Everything seems magical to me when I'm setting up a shot. I get really excited. I love my job. Lame. I know.

Why are you so awesome?  I suspect that I was, in fact, born awesome. Sarcasm and sass contribute to this as well.

Stop and smell the Valentino

So I've never thought of myself as a perfume person. I've only really loved 2 scents... ever. I know. I'm a sham! What kind of girlie girl doesn't love perfume?? I suppose I'm picky and I don't like anything too overpowering, but I tend to gravitate towards really warm smelling scents like amber, vanilla, etc. Smells that can easily be too much. Well, thanks to my love, Eden, over at Valentino I have a new fave! Valentino's Valentina Assoluto is straight up sexy! There's some fresh jasmine, a lil' vanilla, a touch of tuberose, and a hint of something woodsy that really brings it home for me. I really do feel like I walk with a little more swagger when I wear it and bonus, the bottle is un-freaking-believable! It makes my dresser look so fancy! You fancy, huh!? Yep, I sure as heck am. And come on, who doesn't want an inside person at Valentino!? Call or text Eden [678.283.3783] if you are looking for something specific, want to know the upcoming trends, or even if you want her to keep you up to date with upcoming sales! She can help you with all of that!!! Seriously, she's the bomb dot com. Are people still saying that!? I say they are, so boom!

Makeup Snob

Here's the thing. I love makeup, like love-love it. I have an addiction and despite the fact that I rarely change up my makeup routine, I buy it like I'm on the verge of running out. So because of my crazy obsession I've tried a TON of products. TONS 'O' PRODUCTS! So I thought from time to time I would share my beauty findings with you! Today I wanted to talk about under eye brighteners/concealers. I've read for years about the YSL Touche Eclat brightener. I decided to try it a few weeks ago, so I tried it out. FACT: It's awesome, like seriously the 3.5 blended beautifully with my skin, I looked awake and the product was crazy natural. I decided to hold off on purchasing the 40 dollar product to see how it sat on my skin after a few hours. FACT: It lasted for the remainder of the day and continued to look perfect! I'm a huge fan...Before shelling out that kinda dough, I decided to try the also much loved Clinique airbrush concealer. At half the price I was unsure how this would stack up to the ah-mazing YSL, but color-me-impressed!!!! It is pretty great!! The formula is just as light and spreads easily over my hella dark bags. I feel like the YSL has a more seamless finish, pretty full proof, while the Clinique product requires a little more blending with your base makeup, but at half the cost the winner is definitely the Clinique Airbrush! Make sure to pat the product in and blend well with your foundation/base and for 20 bucks you will get the same result as the magical YSL. Sidenote. Drink lotsa water and you'll notice a drastic reduction in dark circles. Also, stay away from processed foods and anything super high in sodium, eat some vitamin K and lay off the caffeine!!! Kimberly Snyder, my favorite nutritionist, has a ton to say on the matter!!! Check out her site!!

Women Who Rock

This is something that I'm really excited about for the blog! I've met some super cool chicks over the years who are all brilliant in their chosen field and I want to share their awesomeness with you! So every few weeks I'll be sharing a quick interview to break down their beauty/style/food philosophies! Fun, right!? I'm starting this week with the ah-mazing Ann Duke, owner of Serenity Skincare in San Diego. I met Ann through a close friend who knew that I need a skintervention and I've had the pleasure of getting regular facials from her for almost a year. I have to say not only is she a genius, she’s one of the most loving and friendly people I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. What drew you to a career in skincare? I was in corporate America for 13 years as a consultant for Sales, Customer Service and Presentations Skills workshops. I found that I didn’t have control of my time or income. I wanted to have my own business and wanted to find something to do that I loved. I read “What Color is Your Parachute” and one of the things she recommended was to look at what you read for fun. I realized the stack of magazines next to my bed, were all about make-up and skincare not how to run a better training class, so I went back to school and never looked back. I worked for other people for about 7 years to learn the business then opened my own in 1998. Now, I see clients and am back to doing workshops for one of my product companies, teaching other estheticians our product line and treatments. I’ve come full circle!

How would you describe your personal skin care philosophy? Cleanse, correct and nourish. Every skin condition needs to incorporate these steps. Most people over moisturize and under cleanse. Use a clean, white washcloth each time you wash your face. This way you make sure all the make-up is removed.

What’s your best advice for ladies with acne? Besides coming to see you ;) Acne is a hereditary condition that is comprised of: 1. Skin cells that don’t want to slough off  2. Thick sticky oil 3. Inflammation 4. Hormones 5. Inability to fight off the p-acne bacteria

We can’t do much about hormones, but you can use products that exfoliate the skin, reduce inflammation, kill bacteria and break up the oil. Sometimes people over-treat acne, overstimulation creates more inflammation which can exacerbate the problem. So it’s important to balance clearing, drying products with hydrating (not clogging) soothing products to help heal skin. Ice is a great tool for underground, papules. Placing ice on the area for 5 minutes helps reduce the inflammation and lessens the size of the bump.

What is the biggest mistake women make when it comes to their skin? They don’t remove their make-up, they forget to reapply sunscreen, and they think sunscreen means they can stay in the sun all day with no repercussions.

If you could only use one product for the rest of your days, what would you choose? Rhonda Allison Daytime Defense, it’s an all-natural 30 UVA/UVB sun protector. 90% of aging comes from sun damage. This man was a truck driver and the right side of the picture is where he had sun exposure from the driver side of his window.

Anyone else thinking it's time to reapply sunscreen?? I, too, love the Rhonda Allison Daytime Defense. It's a great product that protects, but doesn't break out my skin! Make sure to check back Wednesday for an  outfit post!