Melting lipsticks

The other day I asked you lovely readers on my Facebook page and Twitter if you had any experience with those meltdown lipstick moulds. It seems no one had used them before, and searching them online, it seemed a bit pointless to buy one to use once, and then just have it. Sitting there. Taking up space. So instead I decided to melt these down and pour the new color into an old lip pot container, which worked out great!

Luckily Lydia of The Vintage Mama suggested I use a double boiler, so the lipstick wouldn't burn. Since I don't have a set just for double boiling, I just heated water in a medium saucepan to a simmer, and placed the cut off lipstick bits in a smaller pan, and put that among the water, heating it. Worked like a charm!

The lipsticks I chose were all in red-ish, some too matte, some too dark, and most just didn't wear well enough. I also added the remainder of the lip pot, so the result was a nice, berry color with a summery sheen. Since I'll need a lip brush to apply the new color, it'll stay at home, and I'll have one lipstick in my purse, nice and simple!

.....Later edit: Tips from readers! (Because you guys are awesome).....

.....Mix with chapstick or cocoa butter for a sheer lipcolor.....

.....Pour mixture into chapstic tube, mint tin, or empty makeup pallets.....

.....Line the pan and spatula in foil, making cleanup much, much easier.....

.....For a "lipstick", create a tube by wrapping foil around a dowel or other cylinder, and pour liquid inside. Freeze it, remove the foil, then stick it in a lipstick tube.....

My skincare routine

Every once in a while I get a comment that asks how I keep my skin so smooth.

And it makes me laugh, because if this blog took place about five years ago, you wouldn't have any reason for asking that.

Like so many teens, I had acne. It took years to make it go away, thanks to a retinol cream my doctor prescribed, and just simply growing out of it, which I really thought would NEVER happen, at least not when I was still so young. Retinol is used in acne treatment and anti-wrinkle creams because basically it speeds up the turnover of your skin, producing collagen and sloughing off dead skin cells, so they don't clog your pours. It doesn't dry out your skin like other acne treatments do, it nourishes it.

I stopped using the cream about a year ago and instead of using anti-acne cleansers and creams, I decided to try a gentle routine, mimicking the retinol cream, something that provides nourishment.

Here's my list of skincare products:

Cetaphil For normal to oily skin (I buy the generic version from Walgreens.)
Pond's dry skin cream
Pond's cold cream

That's it. No toners, no scrubs, no weekly masks, just the classic, gentle stuff.

Every morning I wash my face with cetaphil, and LUKEWARM water. This was one of the best tips I ever learned, using warm instead of hot water. Hot water dries out the skin, and that's just no good.

After patting dry, I massage the ponds cream on my face, it only takes a little since it's so rich, but I do use a bit more in the winter when my skin is prone to dryness.

Then I let the lotion work it's way into my skin for about 20-30 minutes before applying makeup. I use:

M.A.C. StudioFix Fluide, with spf 15
Covergirl undereye concealer
Coty loose powder

Foundation applied with a sponge, concealer under my eyes and around my nose, then a dusting of powder.

At night I remove eye makeup with Ponds cold cream, wash my face with the same cleanser I used in the morning, pat dry, and massage a thin layer of the same cold cream all over my face.

So there you have it! My own skincare routine. Everyone has different skin needs which depend on genetics, climate, and health, but I do urge you to try something gentile, without alcohol or fragrance if you are having skin troubles. Sometimes taking away all the harsh unnecessary chemicals can do just the trick.

Wiggle Perfume

I have been told I smell like cupcakes, pancakes, hot chocolate, candy, cookies, cotton candy, syrup, whipped cream, and really any other sweet treat. And who wouldn't love to smell sweet?
Every morning I dab on my vanilla scent from Wiggle Perfume, a shop I discovered last fall while searching for the perfect vanilla perfume. The seller (the fabulous Nani) is more than nice and even offers little samples if you would like to try out multiple scents before investing in a full bottle.

Nani mixes all the scents herself, so each one is not just your regular ol' vanilla, ginger, honeysuckle, or sweetgrass. These scents seem to unlock sweet memories you had forgotten, or give a boost to a vixen mood. She even has mens fragrances! See, something for everyone ;)
So if your in the market for a new "you" fragrance or simply like to change your scent as much as your outfit I highly recommend ordering some samples and finding your perfect scent. You'll be sure to find something wonderful!

Beauty Salon

Saturday my mother and I had an appointment at the Salon, I just got a much needed trim, my bangs were past my eyes!
Whenever I go there I indulge in reading fashion magazines and tabloids, and this time I flipped through the home decor magazines too. I took photos of some things I'd eventually like to do when we get our own house, like the color of the wall in that Kate Spade ad, and the lived in feel of the bedroom. I'm always attracted to Kate Spade ads because of the use of color, she has an amazing way of using just the right amount on just the right things, never overwhelming, and never dull.

Here is a little photo of my pink bow shoes I got last year in California. Cute huh?



Before our appointment we had a few minutes to check out a new vintage store on 23rd in Portland. And the next time I go to Pop Up Shoppe, I'll need more than a few minutes to look around. It's like a pretty little daydream, at least mine, with every nook and cranny filled to the ceiling with vintage clothes, accessories, and decor. Think of going into an attic and everything in there is fantastic. Only the shop is kind of in the basement...
The prices are fair, and there were plenty of 40's dresses I would have purchased had I not been saving up for the wedding/honeymoon. There was a surprising amount of children's clothing, something I always find missing in vintage shops, but love. So if you are in the area I would recommend getting lost in my vintage daydream.

Well, one of them.

Victory curls and red lipstick.

When Shayla and I saw each other today we burst into laughter. Not only did we both have victory rolls, but also were wearing 40s outfits of navy, white, and red, and had black 40s crocheted purses. What silly girls. It's vintage telepathy. We felt as though we should have gone somewhere together for a vintage twin day.

This was the first time I had tried my hair this way, I've wanted to do it since Casey posted photos of her styling. For the back I just held it down with a comb, but no hat would go with the hair, so I tied a big bow from a red scarf and pinned it in. Shayla on the other hand did fantastically cute pigtail braids with little red ties at the end. Next time I will try that.

I went to Wallgreens and saw they were having a "buy one get one half off" sale on Revlon makeup, which made me justify buying a red lipstick and lip liner even though I knew it wouldn't work. If all of the department store lipsticks didn't work on me then this would would be a bust. But I got the color "Really Red" as it looked matte enough to maybe be ok. When I got home I tried it on and its so perfect! Not too pink, not too orange, not too sheer, not too dark, just what I wanted ;)

This is not a statement.

I could tell you that this is a statement on society's blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.

But that would be a lie. I simply thought it would be cool to make a plastic bag dress :)

The concept actually came to me last week when Sam and I passed by Anthropologie and they had this giant bee hive thing in the window covered in plastic bags. It looked very different. So I thought, "hey, I'm going to do that, only better". And what would be better than a plastic bag bee hive? A plastic bag dress of course! So I took all the bags I have saved for shipment padding, and made a dress, covered a hat, purse, necklace, and pair of shoes in bags, so everything but the pink curtain in the window display at work is plastic and frothy.

I also just had to share this nail polish I got last night. So, it's pink and shimmery. You'd think it would be called "Sparkling petal" or something obvious like that. But no. No it is not. It is called "Almond Crunch". As I am wringing this, I just ate an almond. And it looks nothing like this when I crunched into it. So my friends, I ask you to explain this to me. Why is this pink nail polish named "Almond Crunch?". I must know what inspired this.

How to do rag curls

When searching the web for rag curl directions, I came across creepy child beauty pageant blogs that said "cut some fabric, wet your hair, roll it up, tie it".

Do that and you will cry from the result.

After quite a while of doing rag curls on myself from chin length hair, to past shoulder length, I can show you the the the little things to know only learned from trial and error. So here is the correct way to do rag curls.

You will need:
Strips of cotton fabric. Around 2" X 5" works well.
A comb.
Mousse or something similar.
A brush.



1. Wet hair. I take night showers, so that's easy, but sticking your head under a faucet could be just fine. Make sure your hair is evenly wet, then pat it with a towel.

2. Brush hair out smooth, with the comb part your hair where you want it, I've only ever done it parted down the middle.

3. With the comb separate a front section of hair. I prefer softer curls, so I take about a fingers width of hair. For tighter curls take a bit less. For a retro look make sure and take the section from about eyebrow level, not from the top of your head.

4. Take a rag and roll the section of hair from bottom to top, not super tight, then it wont dry. Tie the rag under the curl.



5. VERY IMPORTANT. Repeat on the other side. Going back and fourth from side to side traveling to the back. If you do one side at a time, your curls will turn our uneven, due to one side drying while the other side is being set. Then you will be sad.

6. Finish the back, I usually do two layers for extra volume.



7. Sleep on it. Or if you are doing this in the morning and plan on it being done in the evening, a cotton kerchief is a cute look for going out during the day, or a pretty little mesh cap for around the house.



8. When you wake up gently untie the rags. Take a brush and brush though all the curls, it will look pretty fluffy.

9. Take a dollop of mousse, rub your hands together and distribute all over your hair, smoothing the curls out.



Ta da!

Pleasant picnic

I got lipstick in the tube! I was concerned the size of the tube would be too small for the modern lipstick, but it turned out just right. Cleaning out the slightly dry and sticky lipstick was a task I shall approach differently next time, it got everywhere and I had to scrub my hands clean multiple times. Makeup was definitely more like a face painter back in the day, not something to "Naturally enhance your features". Hehe. I opened my suitcase of spring dresses this morning, and it felt like a petticoat day. Pink nonetheless. This is I think the only circle skirt dress I have (I think...) and despite it being faded, stained, and have an uneven hem, I get more compliments on it than any outfit. Actually this is the first time I've worn this petticoat, and I really like the effect of such and unexpected color in a neutral colored outfit.

It was such a nice day again my mother had the wonderful idea of having a picnic in a nearby park, since she made the most yummy pasta salad. Sam and I met my mother, grandma, aunt, brother, three cousins and nephew, so were were quite a silly bunch. There was a small wedding going on nearby, which was nice to see on such a beautiful day.

We played soccer and hide and seek, and my nephew tried to show my cousin how to swim. She was not interested. Most of the wishes had already bloomed into yellow flowers, but we did find a few which were of course fought over by the children. But in the end there were enough wishes for everyone ;)

R is for red.

If asked what my favorite color is, I'll usually insist on having two: Pink and red. However, reviewing my posts I seem to be drawn to red in many things I choose to surround myself with. At the shop I work at there are often times where people will buy multiple items all in the same color, and not take note of it until I say something. Sometimes it's not their favorite color, but rather the color they are drawn to that day depending on the mood they are set in. I've also experienced this in shopping, as I'm sure many have, where I pick one color over another because it feels more right. In lighter moods I gravitate towards pinks and yellows, even though I know yellow looks horrible on me. Serious moods have me trying on black and gray things, which are often taken out of my closet not too long after a purchase because they are too "practical".

Red though is a whole other story. I can be drawn to red in any mood or situation and find that if I do not apply red lipstick when going out, I feel much less confident and more blended in with the world. Red lips demand attention, if I am speaking to you, you will listen. If I smile, so will you. Red lips can turn your day around, if you are having a bad hair day, feel invisible, or find yourself needing a pick me up in the middle of a workday. I have a few favorites, including "Lady Bug" and "Chili" by M.A.C., and "Red Velvet" by Chanel.

What's your favorite red?

Hair decor.

Spring is soooooo close. And yet it snowed today, so it is also nowhere in sight. Its difficult to wear hats with this weather, they get blown off even with hatpins, or just plain get wet. To replace a lovely hat are clips and combs, something I've been collecting and wearing during this hat-hating weather. Bows of course are a must, and remind me of Sally in the Dick Van Dyke show who wore an adorable bow in her hair every day. It always made her office outfit more cheerful and lighthearted. Combs and barrettes have also worked their way into my little collection, of various shapes and sizes. There are some cute ones on Etsy, and I always see really elaborate ones at antique shops. Combs seem really underused now, which is unfortunate since they can make a dull hair day look really put together. They also are an easy 1940s look with hair down if ever you want the look but don't have the time to spend on something so elaborate.

Flower clip-Victorian Bustle

Heart combs-Decades

Others are from thrift stores.

Good hair day.

Ok, I know it doesn't look fabulous and silky, but today was a good hair day. I usually wash it at night, sleep on it wet and wake up looking like a crazy woods woman, but its better than waiting for it to dry in the morning. Today was a rare day I showered in the morning, and had time to let it dry before going out in the cool February weather. Which by the way, is the best because its cold, so you can wear a coat, but also sunny, so you can wear sunglasses. It's a movie star look. Anyway, letting it dry naturally instead of curling it made me realize how long it's gotten since I started growing it out. I'm past that awkward stage just above the shoulders, and didn't break down and cut it! Yayyy! I also used mouse, probably excessivly since really I just wanted to watch that little dollop grow into foam, because for some reason thats how I spend my time when I should be walking to work...
Tomorrow Sam our friend Anna and I are going to Portland for a trip to Powells books. I know, I was totally there the other day, but trust me there's tons to look at. When I was at the Art Institute I checked out a book from the library all about gloves. It was so good and informative, from the 1940s or 50s I think, and ever since then I've been searching for it to buy. I wrote down the title somewhere...but thats just it. It's somewhere, and not right here. Don't you hate it when that happens?

Some shopping...

So yesterday I went to the American Cancer Society thrift shop and was told they just received an estate and there may be items I would be interested in. They brought out a fantastic 60 wedding gown I snatched up on the spot (Its listed in my shop already) but they still have tons to go though, so I've been lurking around there more than usual to make sure I get the goods before anyone else ;)

Today I didnt find anything for my shop but got a few things for myself from the estate collection.

I have a small pink christmas tree that I dont have any ornaments for, I usually just stick all my rhinestone brooches and necklaces on it. Actually turns out very pretty. But today I couldn't resist these darling little birds, each of them hand painted and very beautiful and unique.

I found these cute shoes and they are sooooo comfortable! And look really cool with these tights...

A black fake alligator skin purse big enough to hold everything (including my gloves).

"Beauty is a thing of the past"

I always seem to stumble onto great blogs while searching through google images, and while browsing for a photo for the 1940s hairstyles post, I came across a blog all about vintage beauty methods called "Beauty is a thing of the past", that is full of images of authentic salon instructions for hair, nails, makeup, masks and even some fun videos. The site is so easy to navigate, and although I have yet to try out one of the hairstyles, the instructions with illustrations seem easy enough to follow. I was going to buy a vintage hairstyling book on My baby Jo, but with shipping it came to over $40 and well, its christmas season so my funds are a bit stretched. Plus, really? $10 shipping? Come on.

So thank you Beauty, you've enlightened me at no charge. I love no charge.

How to fill a vintage compact.

Gather all materials. You will need: loose powder, rubbing alcohol, new powder puff or sponge to fit in compact, spoon, small bowl, scrap of fabric, and an item such as a knife or thick paper for smoothing.

First thing to do is wash out your vintage compact very well. Bacteria can spread through the leftover makeup so make sure it is washed with soap and let to dry.


Scoop some powder into a small bowl.


Add about a cap full of liquid to the powder.


Mix to a thick paste. You will need to add more powder and liquid as you mix to reach the correct consistancy.


Scoop the paste in and spread the paste around the dish and press a little to make sure there are no empty bubbles hiding.

Smooth out the top with a flat item such as the back if a knife or strong piece of paper.


This step is optional, but I like it because it feels more finished.
Take a scrap of cloth (a woven cotton will work best) and lay it on the powder. Press gently onto to cloth with your fingers, making a mark in the powder. If the powder is of the correct thickness, then it will not stick.


Now you have that professional "woven" look.


Set it in a safe dry place for about 24 hours and after that you are ready to go! As with any other pressed powder compact, be careful not to bang it around in your purse, or drop it as the powder will break. But if that does happen you can just do the process over again reusing the broken powder.

A few simple 1940s hairstyles.

So I'm not really up with my generation as far as youtube goes. I'm not always watching the latest and most popular video. My friends know if they send me something chances are I wont watch it (aside from the occasional funny cat video). But today I googled "1940s hair" to try and get some styling tips for Thanksgiving and was suprised to find a few youtube videos listed as tutorials. Since I am a monkey see monkey do kind of girl I gave a few videos a try and found a couple that inspired me. "Victory curls in under 5 min" is a great way to do your hair in those upswept tubular curls in a very short time, but would be better suited for costume purposes than what I would use for everyday wear.
The Pin up updo is something I experimented with today, and it was so easy and quick, with such dramatic and authentic results.
I was lucky enough when I had a bob to have a natural perfect fingerwave, so as my hair gets longer I'm having to actually style it so I dont look like a madwoman. With a fair amount of hairspray and bobby pins the second technique held up very well, pictures of that soon.

*coming this weekend*
Some more "New looking vintage" and a way to fill that lovely vintage compact with pressed powder so you can actually use it! And if you dont have one yet, once you see how its done you'll want to get one, just to looks so cute while powdering your nose :)