A brand new year ...

So we've all heard the quotes a million times ... "do one thing a day that scares you", "life begins when you step out of your comfort zone", "we only regret the chances we didn't take" ... blah, blah blah ... 

Well, up until this weekend I hated those quotes.  My feeling has always been, if I'm going to be scared, why do it?  I don't like that feeling.  I don't want to be scared! I like my comfort zone ... it's, well ... comfortable!   

I learned this weekend that you just need to find the right thing that scares you ... and I have to say I'm now a believer (ok, clearly I'm being super cheesy today ... bare with me!)  For example, there is NO way in my life, ever, that I will want to bungee jump.  I will NEVER sky dive.  These are the things that scare me and I'm totally cool with staying scared.  On the other hand, I have been wanting to start a YouTube channel and make beauty related videos for the past year.  

On January 7, 2014 I published my first blog post.  It was SO exciting and I have had amazing support over the past year.  Since that day I have wanted to start making videos.  A year later, although it's been a long time, I finally did it!  This weekend I recorded my first video.  My first blog post was a yearly favourites review so I followed the same pattern and made my first video "2014 Beauty Favourites". 

2014 was a really tough year for my husband and I.  We went through some extremely painful times and it can be difficult to get out of that mindset.  But I finally realized we are so lucky to have the life that we do, we have an amazing support system and 2015 was going to be a better year.  It was time to stop focussing on the bad and move forward.  Last week I announced my Freelance Make-Up Artist business and launched my webpage (www.alisonchandrabeauty.com).  I have had an overwhelming amount of love and support for that new venture and was on such a high from it I decided it was finally time to start filming videos.  

So, bare with me ... my first one had me a bit (ok ... really nervous) and the camera quality kind of sucked.  I realized I say "um" a lot and I need to find better descriptive words ("beautiful" and "perfect" can only be used so many times, Alison!)  BUT I have a better camera that I'm learning to use and will be growing and learning as I go.  I've always had a creative mind and I love the entire process of editing and talking about all the things I love.  I'm having so much fun and it's only been one video!  

I realized I can't keep putting things off in life because it's not quite perfect yet.  Being a perfectionist that is a hard task but life is way too short ... the time is now to take chances and go for the things you want!

I'm turning 30 in less than 5 months so maybe that's where all this sappy life reflection is coming from.  But I just really wanted to share that sometimes it is worth it to take some chances and get a little scared.  You just need to find that right "scary" thing for you!  

So without any further rambling ... click the link below to watch my first video!  It's a long one so you might want to grab a snack!  Hang out with me for 20 minutes as I go through my favourite make-up finds from the past year ... 

Please let me know if you have any video requests!  I'm planning on doing lots of tutorials, tips and tricks, hauls, favourites, DIY things and more.  My goal is to upload once a week!  Now that I put that out there I have to stick with it right! ;) 

Thank you all for the amazing support!  I wouldn't have had the confidence to finally do this without you ... 

Five things making my (beauty) life easier this holiday season ...

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is fast approaching so I have a fun list for you all today! 

Time is limited for a lot of people all year round but especially now.  With Christmas parties, family dinners and last minute shopping, December can get pretty hectic!  Here are five things that are helping me make the most of my favourite time of year by spending less time on my beauty routine and more time with my loved ones. 

1. Kenra Platinum Blow-dry Spray

Photo Cred: Amazon.com

Whether you have hair like me (SUPER curly, coarse, frizzy and hard to manage) or just normal easy to style hair, no one loves spending a lot of time blow drying!  I tried this stuff about a month ago after hearing that it can cut dry time in half and I was sceptical.  Knowing my hair I figured, no way but I did want to still give it a try. Well folks I am here to tell you it actually works!! Not only does it cut down dry time but it has thermal protection so it keeps hair healthy while using all that heat.  As if all that wasn't enough it smells amazing and makes my hair super soft and shiny!  I don't wash my hair every day anyway, but I find when I use this I can go even longer without a wash - it's that good. Definitely a time saver for any time of year! Click here to check it out on Kenra's website!  Through that link you can also find out where near you sells Kenra products. 

2. Sephora Formula X Base & Top Coat 

This base and top coat are my favourite and now that I've started using them I can't go back! I talked about the polish in my Spring Favourites post but I don't think I mentioned the base and top coat! The base coat is slightly sticky so it really helps bond to the polish to help with staying power.  The top coat dries fast and is super shiny!  I almost always get asked if I'm wearing gel polish when I use these and can get about a week of wear time.  Again during the holidays I don't have time to be painting my nails every few days so these really help.  Of course gel or shellac would also last long but I love being able to just use regular polish remover to do a quick colour change rather than soaking the gel polish off.  

3. Bold Lipstick or Tinted Lip Balm

Ok, let's set the scene ... you are working all day and have to rush to a holiday party immediately after, leaving you no time at all to run home to freshen up.  How can you amp up your make-up in one easy step?  Add a bold lip! Bold lips look gorgeous with a simple eye so you can easily create a neutral work appropriate eye look and just before you get to the party, throw on some lipstick to glam it up! Here are a few of my favorites right now: 

Top L to R: Nars Fanny, MAC New York Apple, Bottom L to R: Nars Dragon Girl, MAC Plumful & GC Jewel

L to R: Nars Fanny, MAC Plumful, Nars Dragon Girl, MAC New York Apple & GC Jewel

1. Nars Audacious Lipstick in "Fanny" - This raspberry shade is totally my go-to this holiday season! The price tag is high on the new Nars lipsticks but the quality is amazing so I say it's totally worth it. 

2. Mac Lipstick in "Plumful" - This is a more subtle bold and easier to wear if you are scared of the really dark shades.  Mac lipsticks are definitely a holy grail for me.  

3. Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in "Dragon Girl" - I love this matte lip pencil for the staying power and beautiful bright red shade (fun fact - this is Taylor Swift's go to red for her signature look!)

4. Mac Lipstick in "New York Apple" - This is a great color for those who want to experiment with red lips but don't want to go so bright.  This is described as a muted red with pink shimmer which makes it a little less scary! 

5. Gerard Cosmetics Lip Gloss in "Jewel" - This is definitely for those who want to go bold! This is a gorgeous rich ruby shade with tons of shine.  It's easier to maintain throughout an evening because of the little mirror and light on the tube! 

If you have a couple extra seconds, throw some champagne shadow (Stila "Kitten" would be perfect) on the inner corners of your eyes to really pull the look together! 

On the other hand, tinted lip balms are great for those busy shopping days where you are in and out of the cold trying to check everything off your list.  You don't have much time to worry about lip stick or gloss but want to keep your lips hydrated and still look put together.  I love tinted lip balms for this - you don't need a mirror you can just throw them on in seconds and hydrate your lips while giving them some life.  Here are my current favorites that give a really pretty rosy flush: 

L to R: Fresh Sugar Rose, It Cosmetics Lip Flush & Maybelline Baby Lips

1. Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment - Super hydrating, smells gorgeous and has a really pretty rose tint!

2. It Cosmetics Vitality Lip Flush Stain in Je Ne Sais Quoi - This is a clear and moisturizing lip balm that reacts with each person differently to create the most perfect "your lips but better" rosy pink stain to your lips.  

3. Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me - This one is easy as you can find it anywhere that sells Maybelline - I love the soft red stain this one gives the lips and the cherry scent is great! 


4. Stella & Dot Melanie Chandelier Earrings

Most of the chandelier or statement earrings from Stella & Dot transform from studs to chandeliers with little hooks on the back.  I don't mind spending a little extra on a piece that can be worn different ways and that's why I love Stella & Dot so much!  Check out these beauties, the "Melanie Chandeliers": 

These gorgeous studs can be put on in the morning and worn all day for work ... then when you're on your way to that Christmas party, simply add on the extra pieces to the earrings to create instant glam! 

It really doesn't get any more time saving than that!  You can check out all the other earrings that do the same thing (or any of the other amazing versatile pieces) at the following link:

www.stelladot.com/alisontysoski

 *psst ... the Peacock chandeliers (which also transform from studs to chandeliers) are on sale for Black Friday weekend!  

  

5. Benefit Gimme Brow 

Benefit Gimme Brow in Light/Medium

My last time saving tip to share is a product I fell in love with a few months ago.  Benefit's "Gimme Brow" is a tinted brow gel with a teeny-tiny brush that also attaches little fibers to the brows to give some volume.  This stuff instantly fills in the eyebrows and gives them a fuller look.  I usually use this in a combination with a brow pencil but on days that I'm in a rush this does the trick alone! The gel holds my brows in place all day too which is great so as I'm in and out of the cold and windy weather I don't have to worry about messy eyebrows! This comes in two shades, light/medium and medium/deep. 

* * * * * * * * * * 

If you're still reading this incredibly long blog post - thank you!! I originally planned this post to be short and sweet but as most people know, once I start talking about beauty related products I can't easily stop!  

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season creating new memories with friends and family!   

The BEST Make-up Setting Spray!

Hey Friends!

In honor of the upcoming holiday season and the many parties most people will be attending, I have for you today the BEST makeup setting spray out there to keep your makeup looking fresh and perfect all night long! 

That product is .... Model In A Bottle!

Photo Cred: www.modelinabottle.com

I discovered this stuff online when I was preparing for my wedding three years ago (time flies!).  I like to research products a lot before purchasing and read as many reviews as possible.  This had amazing ones so I knew I had to try it.  

I purchased it a few months before my big day so I could really get a chance to test it out and see how well it really worked. The day my bridesmaids and I knew it was a good product was the day of my bridal shower.  It was a long and busy day so I sprayed all of our faces before we left for the shower. Well of course my Mom decided to say a beautiful and heartfelt speech that had all of us in tears!! As we all looked at each other crying we all burst out laughing because our make-up did NOT move.  I tried it more throughout the months leading up to the wedding and was convinced it was an amazing product.  

I did my own wedding make-up at about 10:00 am that day.  It was an extremely hot and humid day in August (trust me ... ask anyone from that day - it was HOT!!) and through a day of heat (outdoor ceremony), tears, laughter, photos, speeches, dancing, etc ... my make-up didn't move.  I'll never forget my sister in law came up to me at the very end of the night (about 1:30 am by this point) and told me my make-up still looked perfect!! 

One thing to keep in mind is this does have a strong perfumed smell.  Some people love it and some don't, so if you are sensitive to smells they also make a sensitive skin spray that is unscented.  

To use this, simply close your eyes and spray your entire face.  Keep your eyes closed for a minute or so to let it dry (sometimes I add a little bit of translucent powder over the spray once it dries just to really set everything).  This doesn't clog pores, has never caused breakouts on me and uses Aloe Vera extract to add some hydration to the skin as well.  

I really recommend this setting spray - check out the photo of me below taken at the end of the night after attending a wedding.  I did my make-up on that day in the early afternoon and this is a photo of me and my hubby about 10 hours later at the very end of the night (the only thing I had re-applied was lipstick!)

Check out www.modelinabottle.com if you want to purchase this stuff for yourself! 

Wishing everyone a safe holiday season filled with fresh makeup that lasts all night long!! ;)  

How I Painted my Kitchen Counters

Finally another kitchen update! A while ago I posted the final look of the kitchen and promised I would do a more detailed post on my experience with painting the counter tops! So here it is.

This idea was controversial to a lot of people.  We knew we didn't want to replace them due to the work and renovation process.  My husband and I after flipping our first house, renovating the basement in our new house as well as completely overhauling the bathroom (pics coming soon on that I promise!), are totally sick of renovations right now.  We aren't sick of house projects - we LOVE those! Just the idea of ripping things out, multiple trips to the dump, possible drywall repair, etc ... you get the idea.  

We know one day we will completely renovate the kitchen but now is not the time.  I did look into the counter top refinishing kits sold at Home Depot (made by Rustoleum) but just wasn't interested in the look and colors.  I also read they had a pretty potent smell meaning the kitchen would need to be well ventilated.  It still being pretty cold out at the time didn't really allow for that.  When comparing painting vs. the counter top kids they seemed to wear down the same way so again, I opted for the painting idea.  

Here is how I did it! 

1. Tape Edges

I usually don't use painters tape on edges when painting regular walls.  I would much rather buy a good quality paint brush and just be careful rather than taping it all.  I love to paint so over the years this has gotten much easier.  However, for this project there were a lot of little corners to get into and I wanted to make sure it was even so I just decided to tape all of the edges.  

2. Prime Counters

Next step is to prime the counters.  A good thing to do first is sand them down just to give the primer something extra to stick to.  I actually skipped this step due to being a little too excited to get started haha!  Plus this primer is awesome - it literally sticks to anything! I have even used this to prime vinyl flooring to prepare it to be painted and it was totally durable, no scratches.  I absolutely love it and it is always my go to.  

2. Paint!

Next step is to start painting!! I used the color "Swiss Coffee" by Behr - a nice classic white with a warmer undertone (wanted it bright and white but not 'cold').  I used regular latex kitchen & bathroom paint and a small foam roller.  I painted three coats to get a nice even color.  My original plan (and something you might want to do depending on your tastes) was to sand in between coats.  For this, the best is to use 220 sandpaper and lightly sand in between each coat once it is dry.  After sanding, use some tack cloth (a sticky cloth pictured below) to wipe off any of the dust.  This will provide a nice smooth look, however after my first coat I decided I really liked the textured look.  I thought the little bumps that the roller gave actually made it look like a real textured counter-top so I went with it!  

3. Protect

To protect the counters I used Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish.  I went with this water based protector because it will stay clear rather than taking on a slight yellow tone over time (that would only be noticeable with using white paint so it was appropriate in this case).  Due to the water base, the Polycrylic also has a less intense smell and dries faster so it was a win-win!  I painted three coats of this with a good quality paint brush.  I tried using a roller but found with the white paint, little bits of dust were attaching to the roller and showing up. Using a brush was definitely the best way to go in this case.  I originally planned on doing more coats for maximum durability but figured I would stick with three and see how it wears (if I get chips I can just touch up at that time).  

This all took me about three days but that was because I did it in between working full time. If not for that I could have done it in about two days if you take in to account drying time.  

So far we only have two little chips on the edge of one counter.    I am totally OK with this as I hated the counters before that much that I don't mind a couple touch ups here and there.  Plus the little marks are things only we notice - no one else would probably even see them!  Otherwise we have been letting ourselves use the counters as normal.  In the beginning we were so cautious and careful but figured I can always touch up so let's use them as normal and see how much they can really take.  So far so good! 

If you have any questions about my process in doing this let me know!  I would be happy to answer anything for you.  Overall we are so happy with this project.  I will post an update in a few months or so when we see how they continue to wear over time! 

Hopefully this post helps you if you have a kitchen project in mind or are planning on painting anything where you need that extra durability (a bathroom counter, a vanity top, a desk, etc ...)  

Have a wonderful day and as always, thanks for the support! 

The Power of a Lipstick

www.breakupstomakeup.com

Last week I spent some time with my cousin/bestie in California after going through a rough couple of weeks. 

I knew we would be doing some major retail therapy and one item on the top of my list was a new lipstick.  I didn't want just any lipstick ... but a fancy lipstick.  I am a lip product lover in general but I knew a designer brand would be a way to feel kind of luxurious without totally breaking the bank.  Most designer lipsticks retail anywhere from $35-$45 (brands like Dior, YSL and Chanel, for example).  I could have purchased something else from one of these lines but to me, a lipstick was something I could use every day.  It is something I can pull out of my purse regularly and just feel a little more fancy while doing so.  

While discussing this, my cousin Paula reminded me of the story of the "Lipstick Effect".   The lipstick effect is something that happened during the recession a few years back when most retail sales seemed to decrease but surprisingly lipstick sales rose.   According to researchers at Texas Christian University, the University of Minnesota, the University of Texas at San Antonio and Arizona State University, the more insecure the economy, the more money women spent on beauty products.  Check out this arcticle from The Huffington Post for a little more info behind this theory.  

I didn't know about any of this but in my mind just knew a designer lipstick would be a fun new purchase.  I decided on a YSL "Rouge Volupte Shine" in the shade "8 - Pink in Confidence", a dusty pale pink that is perfect for every day wear.  I think when spending a lot of money on a lipstick you may as well get a shade that you can get a lot of use out of.  I didn't want something like dark red or hot pink that I would only wear on special occasions; I wanted something that I could put in my purse and be able to wear with any look.  Why spend $40 on a lipstick that I would only wear once a month!?   Although this was expensive, I know I will be purchasing more since the quality is so great.  The color is perfect and the formula is so creamy and comfortable on the lips.  It has long staying power and a beautiful shine to it.  I absolutely love the gold packaging and it definitely feels luxurious when I pull it out.  It almost reminds me of being a little girl and watching my Mom or other ladies pull out a fancy lipstick from their purse.  Being a lover of makeup my whole life, I remember being excited for when I got old enough to carry and wear a pretty lipstick.  

I've been wearing lipstick for a long time and have too many MAC lipsticks to even count, but this is my first designer lip product.  Maybe you think lipstick isn't your thing, but I'm telling you ... next time you're down, treat yourself to a new lipstick and see if it gives you that pick-me-up you might need.  Yes there's more to life than just lipstick and yes lipstick doesn't solve the world's problems ... but sometimes life doesn't need to be so complicated and it's OK to accept the fact that yes, a lipstick might make you feel better.  My new lipstick didn't solve my problems but it does make me feel confident when I put it on and that's good enough for me. 

Wishing you all a happy weekend! 

    

Kitchen Makeover: The After!

Finally I am back with my kitchen makeover after photos!! The project really didn't take much time at all but I didn't want to post photos until all the little finishing touches were complete.  

We are so so happy with this transformation.  A little bit of paint and some work put in totally changed the look and feel of this space.  The new paint gave it an update but the back splash and chalkboard wall helped give the space some character to match the rest of our home!  The painted counter top has held up amazing so far with only one little chip which was my own fault for not sanding properly in between coats (what can I say I got lazy and was excited to just be finished and start decorating - hehe!).  I will post a more in depth tutorial this week on how I painted the counters and what I used.  For now ... check out the photos! 

I'll post a couple before ones first just to refresh your memory: 

So as I said in my last post about the kitchen, it wasn't that bad ... but we were so excited for a change! 

Check it out!

*The knobs are all the same but we switched up the drawer pulls and love the look!! Such a simple tip!

*I love how the darker cabinets have totally refreshed the look of our white appliances.  Rather than just blending in and looking kind of drab they now look bright and white again!

*We decided to go with a darker grout to help showcase the tiles and break up all the white! This should help with kitchen stains as well - white grout may be much harder to keep clean.

*We kept the section of butcher block to avoid too much wear and tear on the painted counters!

*As you can see here we left these cabinet doors off to give the space a different look and store recipe books! It is now so much easier to just grab a book when needed.

*We moved the microwave here to make more room on the other counter for my Kitchen-Aid stand mixer! I was tempted to paint the stool and the table for the microwave but I kind of like how it warms up the space and matches with the butcher block section on the other side.

* I took these photos in bright daylight so the wall color is hard to see - but it is a really great basic "greige" colour. 

*One of my favorite parts is this chalkboard wall!  This gives the space some character and I can't wait to change up the quotes based on the season or holiday!

 

 

Paint Colors Used:

 

Walls: Behr - Mineral

Cabinets: Behr - Perfect Taupe

Counter Tops: Behr - Swiss Coffee

Chalkboard Wall: Rust-oleum Black Chalkboard Paint

Hope this provided some inspiration to you on how a little bit of paint can completely transform the look and feel of a space!! Happy Sunday! 

A quick kitchen organization tip ...

So my husband asked if I would bake some banana bread tonight (probably just to use up some of the 50 bananas we have in our freezer!) and in doing so, I thought I would quickly share one of my favorite kitchen organization tips! 

I love baking and cooking and find this really helps me stay organized and quickly reach for what I need.  It's super simple ... I hang my measuring cups and spoons on the inside of a cupboard door! That's it! 

It sounds so simple and I have often been poked fun at for being too organized (ummm, I have to object ... you can never be too organized!) but this makes such a huge difference for me and I can't live without it!  When I moved into my new house I didn't have it up right away and anytime I tried to bake it drove me nuts so it wasn't long before I did it again. 

Here is a photo of what it looks like:

 

You can use different options for the little hangers but all I used were the 'Command Damage Free' hooks.  You can also drill small holes and screw in tiny hooks but I like the fact that I can easily remove these hooks if needed.  You do not need to use an actual label maker like I did but I do recommend labeling them somehow just to make it that much easier to distinguish.  You can use little stickers with handwritten numbers or even print them out on small printable labels.  However, if you have ever even considered  purchasing a label maker .... do it! I don't mean to condone bad spending behavior (haha!) but if you are the type of person who likes to organize or wants to simplify your life a bit, a label maker is a great addition to your family. :)  I use mine all the time!

Here are some more close up photos of the finished result:

Again it's a super simple tip and I'm sure you have seen this all over Pinterest! You can definitely be more creative to make it prettier (which I may do since I have a kitchen remodel project happening soon) but I also find it simple yet effective like this! 

Hope you all have a wonderful evening and enjoy the upcoming weekend!  With my kitchen project starting this weekend I think I will savor this downtime and pour myself a cup of tea and test out that banana bread I mentioned. :)  

 

 

Easy Valentine's Day Date Idea

Hello loves!! 

Valentine's Day is quickly approaching so today I'm sharing a budget friendly date idea!  My husband and I have been together for 10 years this month (crazy!!) and this is something we have made a tradition ... anyone that knows us well knows this is what we do!

It started out because our second Valentine's Day together we were students starting University and therefore on a major budget!  Valentine's Day also always fell around reading week for us and we loved using that time to plan a trip (again leaving less money to spend towards Valentine's Day).  We never go crazy on gifts this time of year; we are just happy spending some extra time together doing something special ... and maybe a small gift (i.e.: a DVD, a small bottle of perfume or cologne, Dior Creme de Rose lip balm .... *hint hint - haha!).

Anyways, our favorite way to spend V-Day for the past 10 years has been to spend the night at home cooking some homemade pizza - and the super corny part is we always make it heart shaped!  Again I know you're probably rolling your eyes but you don't have to make it heart shaped - or you don't have to make pizza at all!  Maybe order some take-out or make a different favorite meal together.  But - that is what we do ... we put on some music, drink some wine, cut up all of our favorite veggies and meats, make some pizzas (homemade crust and all!) and usually watch a movie!  Some years I even go the extra mile and make some chocolate fondue with some cut up fruit for dessert!  Perfect excuse to bust out the fondue pot! 

I know a lot of people dislike Valentine's Day but I look at it as a chance to celebrate love - love with another person, love of your friends or family, or most important love for yourself! So if you are single or even if your significant other is out of town, etc ... why not plan a date night with some friends!  If I were single or if Jay was out of town, I would probably do one of my favorite things and have a spa night at home.  The point is, do something that you love to do!  It doesn't have to be all about hearts everywhere and the color pink - maybe your V-Day treat to yourself will be a latte from Starbucks!  Just saying - treat yourself or the ones you love with a little something to show them you care.

Now for some cheesy past photos of the homemade pizza making!   

*Don't forget the champagne! Hey - life is short so I use any chance I can to pop open some bubbly!

*hmmm, looks like we have a little guest!

 

Wishing everyone a lovely Valentine's Day whether it is with your honey, some friends, or a day to pamper and spoil yourself!