Happy April!!

~ happy April 1st!! we aren't ones to play april fools jokes but april still brings with it the promise of sunshine, tulips and mini eggs so that makes us happy campers. we're excited about a few Easter recipes we will be sharing over the weekend, including a delectable cake recipe from Butter! have a wonderful long weekend with your families and we hope the Easter bunny gives you all the mini eggs your heart desires ~ 

Citrus Love

~ we're so happy it's spring in Vancouver. we realize how lucky we are living on the west coast and not having to deal with the cold winter weather the rest of Canada has had to deal with. thinking of how to ease off winter tension and entering spring relaxed, we're sharing simple de-stressers using citrus that you can all incorporate into your daily routines easily

~ we're big fans of anything that will help us feel less stressed and rejuvenated and as a bonus smells delicious. citrus scents have been known to have many benefits, the biggest: how it aids in reducing stress. many of us live chaotic lives, combining work, family and friends and still trying to make time for an episode of Scandal, House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, Game of Thrones {you get my drift}. different citrus scents provide different benefits: orange oil is contains a key soothing ingredient, linalool, that helps to relieve tension and stress. lemon oil has been known to perk you up and reduce anxiety. grapefruit aromas are commonly known to curb depression and enhance memory. 

~treat yourself by incorporating citrus aromas in these very simple DIY ways to de-stress and feel rejenvated courtesy of Sunkist

~ hydrate with lemon water: we're big fans of lemon water, whether it be as part of our morning cup of hot water with honey and a slice of lemon or simply by adding a squeeze into our daily water intake. flavoring a tall, cool glass of water with a few squeezes of a juicy lemon is very refreshing. take a quick moment and savor the taste and aroma by closing your eyes and breathing deeply in between sips. you'll instantly feel both calm and refreshed, ready to tackle the day

~ take a citrus scented bath: relax after a long day of being a #girlboss by treating yourself to the kind of bath your deserve. fill your tub with hot water and surround yourself with some beautifully scented candles. add a few slices of your favorite citrus, whether orange, lemon, lime or grapefruit and a few bubbles if you so desire. step in, settle yourself, close your eyes and take in the delicious aroma while the candles flicker and you relax

~ make yourself some citrus potpourri: on the stove top, simmer some leftover citrus peel, a teaspoon of cinnamon in hot water, allowing the scent to waft in the house for hours. even better and longer-lasting if you have a slow-cooker!

~ treat yourself to a grapefruit massage: mix a few drops of grapefruit essential oil into your favorite body moisturizer. massage all over, taking in the invigorating and calming scent while giving yourself a spa-worthy treatment

Beauty Favorites: {Drug Store Favorites}

~ there's something to be said for being a savvy beauty junkie. it doesn't always mean having the most expensive products in your makeup kit. Rather, it means knowing what products are investment pieces and which ones you can save on.

~ being makeup artists, we go through A LOT of product. there are certain make up items that we are always replenishing and sometimes it just doesn't make sense spending so much on items that you go through so quickly and frequently. we practice this philosophy with our personal make up kits also. absolutely there are items that we will spending some of our hard-earned money on and feel no remorse or guilt whatsoever {we're looking at you Tom Ford lipsticks} but there are some things we just can't bring ourselves to spend all those dolla bills on for the following reasons:
1. we don't use them too often {like foundation ~ Oz is a tinted moisturizer kinda girl} 2. the lifetime of the product just isn't worth it {most mascaras because we go thru them so fast} 3. trendy items {certain shades of lipsticks or eyeliners are only popular for so long, no sense in spending so much money if they're only being used a few times} and lastly, 4. tried, tested and true {these products are just as good as their luxury counterparts!}

~ we've chosen 6 of our favorite drug store products that we think you'll love just as much, starting off with Oz's selects.
we would love to hear your favorites also in the comment section!!

1. Maybelline Baby Lips ~ i probably have 10 of these in all my coats and purses. they're so hydrating and impart a hint of color that can actually be used in lieu of lipstick or gloss. as an added bonus, they visibly renew the texture of your lips leaving behind super soft lips

2. Cover Girl Full Lash Bloom ~ mascara is something i thru a lot! i'm a minimalist when it comes to my every day makeup routine
3. L'Oreal Infalliable Gel Lacquer Liner 24 Hour ~ this gel liner is amazing. ah-may-zing. it glides on super smooth without tugging at your skin, the brush gives you a lot of control with flexibility {for those winged eyeliner days} and it stays. like on. for a very long time. it is also a favorite of many a celebrity make up artists
4. L'Oreal True Match Concealer ~ i don't know about you but i like my makeup application to be quick and foolproof but have me looking beauteous. this easy to use concealer that blends in seamlessly with color match perfection is a great on-the-go product to have for quick, cell-phone camera touch ups
5. Eco Tools Brushes ~ i'll be honest with you, i like fancy brushes. they bring me lots of joy when i use them on myself and my clients. i came across these brushes by accident: i went to a makeup gig not realizing that i had misplaced my brushes in a different kit {fortunately it was a friend and i got there super early and we were close to London Drugs}. while i could have easily done a full makeup with my hands and fingers {fashion makeup artist yo!} i do hold myself to a level of professional decorum. my salvation: eco tools brushes. they are really nice. really nice. and trust a makeup artist when they tell you if brushes are the bomb.com or not. these beauties are now my mainstay personal brushes
6. Revlon Colorstay Foundation ~ if and when i wear foundation {very rarely if ever} i like a foundation that works with my combination skin, gives me a decent amount of coverage, but most importantly, stays on my face. fortunately, this one does all of that and doesn't make me feel like my skin is caked on with makeup {yes, i am a makeup artist who doesn't like to wear foundation. we do exist}

Tarah's selects are coming up and she's a glam girl so be sure to check back soon!

xoxo

Happy Spring x Celebrating Traditions in Style

~ hello lovelies! Happy first day of spring!!! we are very happy winter is officially over {we feel for you if there is still snow where you live!!} we are also very excited to share with you a shoot we collaborated on with Jaleh from J.Events Planning and Design  and photographer Matthew Burditt to celebrate Persian New Year {also known as Norouz} ~

~ my {Oz} background is Persian. we celebrate Iranian New Year on the first day of spring. i wanted to share with you all the beauty of what we call a sofreh hafsin. tarah introduced me to jaleh and having another Persian collaborate with us for what we envisioned as a modern take on the traditional elements of Norouz ended up being exactly what we hoped for. we hope that you enjoy the images and are able to take away a bit of history and traditions of Norouz along with you. we wish you a prosperous year full of beauty and happiness ~

 

~ a sofreh hafsin is a traditional table setting for Norouz and includes 7 items that begin with the word sin {s} : 

1. sabzi:  wheatgrass/lentil sprouts that represent rebirth

2. samanu: sweet pudding representing affluence

3. senjed: dried oleaster wild olive fruit representing love

4. seer: garlic representing medicine

5. seeb: apple symbolizing health and beauty

6. somäq: sumac fruit symbolizing the color of sunrise

7. serkeh: vinegar symbolizing old age and patience

~ along with these traditional elements, we also place a mirrors, hyacinths or tulips, colored eggs as well as gold coins, sweets and the book of Hafiz {a book of poetry by the mystical poet Hafiz}~

 

 

*

International Women's Day

~ hello beautiful people!!  we hope the sun is shining on your gorgeous faces! we're so lucky vancouver's weather has been so spring-like as of late {we cannot wait for spring}. we apologize for being MIA on the blog lately, we've been working on some beautiful things to bring you all very soon! so stay tuned for some prettiness!!

~ March 8th is International Women's Day, a day that celebrates the strength and beauty of women everywhere. it is one of the only international celebrations that is not commercialized as it stands for the work that fearless women have put and continue to put forth in order for women's voices to be heard. we are firm believers in the abilities of women everywhere around the world and subscribe to the belief that together, we should hold hands and pull ourselves up to what we know women's worth is. we are staunch believers in equality amongst genders and races and feel strongly that this passion should be shared unequivocally amongst all women and men. campaigns such as HeforShe and Not There are continuing to bring more and more attention towards the necessity of gender equality and showing the world that women's voices matter. we are happy to live in a world where campaigns such as these continues to develop and garner more attention daily and are so proud to belong to a blogging community that strengthens female empowerment every day. we encourage you to spread the awareness and your speak to gender equality for every one ~

xoxo

The Morning After {Breakfast with your Love}

~ you spent the night together, had your champagne and chocolate strawberries, or in our case handpies and brownies. the morning after a day of love should be just the two of you having a quiet and easy breakfast together. squeeze out a bit more extra love until the day goes back to errands, children, work and life ~

 ~ some delicate pancakes with raspberry jamp, bourbon syrup and some mimosa's {why not? its saturday} is a great way to begin any day~

*pancake recipe*

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3 1/2 tablespoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup sugar

1 1/4 cup milk

1 egg

3 tablespoons butter

~ melt butter in microwave for 30 seconds and set aside

~ mix together flour, baking powder, salt and sugar

~ in a separate small bowl, beat egg and milk together

~ pour butter and milk/egg mix in with dry ingredients, whisking well {with a wire whisk} to combine everything together {mixture will be thick and slightly lumpy}

~ in a non-stick pan with butter {or cooking spray} scoop in 1/4 cup of batter {per pancake}

~ allow to cook approximately 3-6 minutes on each side {or until lightly golden}

~ top with a dollop of butter, some raspberry sauce and delicious bourbon syrup

~ enjoy with a mimosa

*all Photography by Matthew Burditt *

Valentine's Dinner {For Her}

~ valentine's day is a special day for a lot of couples. a day to celebrate their love for each other. whether you're a romantic person throughout the year or not, the day itself brings out everyone's romantic side. for us, a special dinner made by our love is one of the most romantic gestures we can imagine. with our help, you can put together a simple, Parisian-insipred dinner for your lady that will wow her ~

~while cooking might not be the strength of every guy out there, the menu we've put together here is quite easy to do. as long as boiling water is something you are comfortable with, you'll be gold ~

~ decor is simple, some champagne flutes, candles, a gorgeous bouquet and these super pretty stone hearts. a simple white tablecloth, soft pink linens and gold cutlery is all you need for a romantic table for two. don't over-complicate it, that's not how the Parisian's do it ;-) ~

~ for an appetizer you'll both love, a beautiful roasted beet and pear salad topped with goat cheese, slivered almonds and a balsamic dressing will be sure to impress your lady love. it involves a bit of prep work with the beets but is otherwise super easy. appertizers and dinner is served with a delicious prosecco that is sure to pair well with the meal~

*recipe for Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese with Balsamic Reduction*

2 large beets

1 Bartlett pear

slivered almonds

balsamic dressing {reduced on low temperature until it becomes thick and syrupy or store bought}

herbed goat cheese {as much as you like!}

1 handful candied pecans {chopped coarsely}

~ roast beets wrapped in aluminum foil topped with a bit of olive oil for no less than 30-45 minutes, set aside to cool

~ peel beets {the external skin needs to come off before slicing thru. remember, beets can stain your fingers so use some disposable gloves or whatever you have and work on a plastic cutting board, not wooden}

~ slice beets about 3 cm in thickness {they can be slippery so do your best to get nice, even slices}

~ slice the pear in half and then in wedges of similar thickness

~ begin arranging your plate: start with 4 slices of beet, topped with 5/6 slices of pear

~ scoop out some goat cheese from its packaging and simply form a small ball of deliciousness and place atop the beets and pears

~ sprinkle some pecan pieces around the salad

~ drizzle with a delicious balsamic reduction

~ dinner is simple: a beautiful pesto spaghettini topped with a delicate quail egg {once cracked, cooks within the heat of the pasta and becomes like a carbonara, creamy and delicious}. shave some parmesan on top and this dinner is a perfect way to feed each other while staring dreamily in each others eyes {if that's your sorta thing ;-) }

~ for dessert, impress your lady with delicious heart shaped berry hand pies. you'll need no magic tricks here, some pie crust, mixed frozen fruit, heart shaped cookie cutter and the love you have for your gal ~

* Heart-Shaped Handpies recipe *

1 store-bought pie crust thawed

1 package frozen mixed berries

1 cup sugar

heart-shaped cookie cutter

flour

~ in a pot on your stove top, pour in 2 cups of frozen berries and 1 cup of sugar and let them marinate over medium temperature. keep your eyes on it as you aren't trying to make a syrup, more a chunky sauce

~ once reduced, turn off temperature and let it cool a bit {and thicken up slightly}

~ roll out your pie crust on a floured counter so it is approximately 2 cm in thickness

~ punch out 4 heart shapes

~ spoon in some fruit into the middle of the heart, avoiding a 1 cm edge {to avoid spillage}

~ top with the second heart crust and using a fork, pinch the edges down to keep all the yumminess inside

~ bake for 10/15 minutes {or packaging directions} and serve warm with extra berry sauce

*All Photography by Matthew Burditt *

Glam at the 2015 Grammy's

- excuse us for being away for a moment, we have been working on some fun Love Day ideas! however, we took a break to indulge in some 2015 Grammy's action and the glitterati did not disappoint. the ladies pulled out their glam squads and took their red carpet action up a notch if you ask us. below is our picks for the best glam of the night:

Madonna

~ say what you will about her outfits, her men ( boys), or her music, but you can't deny that her makeup artist @ginabrookebeauty slays her glam on every red carpet.  never without her Chantecaille Rose de Mai Hydrating Mist, she also incorporated the brands Future Skin foundation and new for Spring 2015 The Glacier Eye Shadow Trio (which we will be picking up for ourselves after seeing it!). the Madonnator sported a rose lip, her signature porcelain skin, strong brows and bold cat eye liner with the most gorgeous shade of gold glitter shadow

Katy Perry

~this girls makeup is on point at every event thanks to her beauty boy @byjakebailey.  as a Cover Girl spokesperson he incorporated a few signature products into her look for the Grammy's, such as Cover Girl's newest addition to their mascara family: Full Lash Bloom Mascara.  a few of our other picks to complete her look are Cover Girl's Bombshell Intensity Liner and Notice Me Nudes Eyeshadow Quad. shine on Miss Katy, shine on

Kim Kardashian- West

~ now this pick may be frowned upon by some of you, but there is no denying @makeupbymario talent for bringing out the best in Mrs. West's features with his signature glam.  using Anastasia Beverly Hills shadows on her eyes in a mix of golds, greens and browns, Tom Ford Gloss in Naked, and his custom highlighter Eye M Glam by Giella.  this gives Kim a fantastic glow with out being overly shiny, and a wonderful take on  modern mermaid colors

Golden Globes Recap: SBD Girls Best and Worst Dressed

~ awards season has begun with the arrival of the Golden Globes red carpet!  now I know there's been a few awards already, however none so talked about by us regular folk than the well publicized Golden Globes.  Fashion Police is back on E! and the SBD Girls are ahead of the game bringing you our picks for Best and Worst Dressed.  in our opinion everyone was being a bit safe but the amount of glamour cannot be discredited, the ladies looked lovely no matter how little fashion risk they took, here are our picks:

Best Dressed

~ the ladies in white! now these dresses were playing a bit safe but gorgeous none the less, Emily Blunt looked like a chic Grecian goddess in custom Micheal Kors.  Reese Witherspoon relied on her tried and true recipe for success, old hollywood inspired glam with side swept hair and straplesss dress by Calvin Klein.  Sienna Miller also played it safe in our opinion but she just looks so damn good in boho chic Miu Miu

~ now these 3 ladies opted for color (or shade for Gina Rodriguez) and every aspect of their look fits effortlessly together. Jane the Virgin actress Gina Rodriguez ( and Golden Globe winner! ) is ultra glam in this Badgley Mischka gown, and while the color plays it safe, we love the silhouette and bottom detailing.  Felicity Jones was our pick for most fashion forward for the night, we loved her teal Dior gown, with it's beautiful structured top and dramatic full skirt.  we can't leave the gorgeous Allison Williams out, and while we think the Girls actress played it safe with this pick, there is no denying she is giving major red carpet glam in her Armani Prive.   from the hair, to the makeup everything works beautifully together (albeit a tad prom like)

Worst Dressed

~ now worst dressed can be a bit harsh as all of these ladies look beautiful and may be taking fashion risks (in Claire Danes case) but they missed the mark a bit in our opinion.  Claire Danes is in Maison Valentino, and while our affinity for Rock Studs is major, we felt she just didn't shine in this busy print.  Salma Hayek's Alexander McQueen frock is beautifully detailed but over accessorized!  had she laid off the floral hair piece, big earrings, rings and bracelet and just kept the clutch and belt ( maybe the earrings) this look would have worked.  Kiera Knightley.....now we love Chanel but this look is a little too matronly with this collar.  to say that this worked is a gross understatement, especially when you lay eyes on the butterfly bracelet.  Kiera, you look lovely in lace, print and ruffles just not all together!

~ so ends our first red carpet post of the awards show season! stay tuned for more Golden Globes beauty coming at you tomorrow!

Happy New Year {2015}

~ wishing you all health, happiness and prosperity in 2015. thank you for sharing in our love of beauty|style|pretty things. we cannot wait to share in more prettiness with you all! ~

xoxo Oz & Tarah

New Year's Eve Entertaining {with friends}

~ yesterday we had the good fortune of having our tips for NYE entertaining be featured on The EveryGirl. alongside Meghan Faye from Living Boldly, Bria Lear from Digital Darlings Creative and Nicolette Lang-Andersen from Coveting Chi Chi, we shared our easy entertaining strategies for a glimmering New Year's Eve party. while no party is complete without good eats, sparkling dresses and bubbly, we think the most important part of any party are the guests. these three girls made the party swing so smoothly for us and while they all know this, and we've thanked them endlessly, we wanted to dedicate this post to them as a special thanks *kisses* ~

 

 

 

 

 

  

Nicolette Lang-Andersen

 

Meghan Faye

 

Bria Lear

 Cheers to a wonderful 2015!!

{Photography: Matthew Burditt}  
{Makeup: Jasmine Hoffman/Hair: Mizella Alaparaque/Wardrobe: Mine and Yours} {Decor Styling: Delovely Creative/Food: Cotto Enoteca/Cake: Cadeaux Bakery/Stationery: LeLe Chan/Florals: Balconi/Shoot Coordinator: Cristina at Fluent Productions}

{Party Makeup}: New Year's Eve

~ no party outfit is complete without hair and makeup. you could have the prettiest and sparkliest of dresses but if your hair and makeup isn't on point, the outfit doesn't work. luckily for us, we had the assistance and makeup styling of Jasmine Hoffman for our The EveryGirl feature. Jasmine's put together her Top 5 products to achieve a perfect NYE party look ~

 {from top left}

Shu Uemura Painting Liner in Black ~ perfect for a stay all night through dancing winged liner or a perfect addition to your smokey eyes for smudge proof eyemakeup

Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara ~ full volume, flirty lashes that are smudge-proof are an absolute must for any makeup look

Noir Lash Lounge False Lashes in Faux in Love ~ flirty the night away in glamorous falsies

Laura Mercier Translucent Powder ~ soft to touch and lightweight but it'll keep your makeup looking glam all night long

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Bronze ~ perfect for glowing, shimmery skin as you ring into the new year!

xoxo
follow Jasmine on instgram for more of her makeup styling

{Party Hair}: New Year's Eve

~ i don't know about you, but we start thinking about our NYE outfit a few weeks before the day. from making sure we've got the right dress, shoes, hair and makeup, there's a lot of planning involved. fortunately, we've got friends in high places who can help us out making sure we look our spiffiest. we lucked out and had Mizella Alaparaque work her magical fingers on our hair for our NYE shoot for The EveryGirl and recommended 6 of her favorite products to achieve the best holiday party hair ~

{from top left}

1. Something to smooth out frizz and add shine. Mizzy loves Redavid Orchid Oil. It works for all hair types and smells divine

2. A good hairspray is a must. L'Oreal Elnett is old school but works. It'll keep your mane looking fresh for hours

3. Feeling extra festive? Spray some shimmer in your hair! Joico Gold Dust Shimmer Finishing Spray is the perfect hair accessory for a glimmering NYE

4. A bit of extra volume is never a bad thing. This Oribe Dry Texture Spray will give you J-Lo volume and texture and smells so, so, so good!

5. Make sure you protect your hair from all the hot tools. Ojon is a great, light-weight hair protector for all hair types, revitalizing and protecting your hair without weighing down your strand

6. Gotta make sure your hair looks countdown ready. Packing a travel size White Sands Infinity Finishing Hairspray is the perfect touch-up spray to look camera ready

xoxo 

follow Mizella on instagram for more of her hair/makeup work