I'm BACK!

I am back from our summer back west! We had SO much fun! We camped, went boating, saw lots and lots of family, went to weddings, and stayed up past midnight just about every single night (see pictures below)! We went everywhere from Connecticut, to Las Vegas , Idaho, and Utah! 

After about two weeks of being back I finally have all our boxes unpacked! I'm still working at a daycare in the mornings, and at a golf course some nights and weekends. I have openings during the week to do hair!! I'm excited to see and catch up with a lot of my clients! This fall I am also taking some continuing education classes, to keep current with trends and styles, so that should be a blast!!! To book an appointment email me at megganmorgan@gmail.com  I'd love to catch up!!!!

I hope you all had a great summer!!!

Dry Shampoo

I am in LOVE with this warm weather we have been experiencing! I could do without the humidity though....but that is another post for another day. This weather has been making me crave camping!! Is it weird for me to be as girly as can be and yet LOVE camping!? I guess growing up in Idaho has had its effect on me!

I think the biggest complaint that women have about camping is the "going without washing your hair for days" part. Gross, but come on girls, it is sooo worth it!! haha Anyway i have a solution to this problem! Dry Shampoo of course!! It is now my camping must have!

 People seem to have a love/hate relationship with it. I think finding just the right one is the trick. And i think people hate the idea of not washing your hair everyday. It's in fact actually healthier for your hair and scalp if you don't. The natural oil your scalp produces helps with the overall health of your hair, it helps with shine, split ends, and promotes hair growth as well as combats dry scalp.  I'd recommend shampooing every other day. You can still shower in the mornings just try not washing your hair. Dry Shampoo is also great for after workouts on those days where you are too busy to fit in anything more than a rinse of your sweaty bod.

The dry shampoo trend spread like wildfire while i was working at a beauty supply in Utah. I was able to test like 8 different brands!! It was nuts!! So now I consider myself a dry shampoo expert!

 KMS is by far my favorite brand. Its light and doesn't have a distinct smell.

This one is a little heavier but smells awesome like strawberries. And it comes out translucent!

 And this one is great because it is HOMEMADE! Any brand of corn starch will do. Just grab a pinch and then massage it at the base of your roots and wala it takes the oil out of your hair! Or you can out it in a salt shaker for easier application. If it leaves your hair a little white just massage in a little bit of water. Corn starch isn't as great as the professional versions but when you're on a budget it works perfect!

And now its time for a funny story....so i was working one night at the beauty supply when this girl came in. bless her heart. She asked me what i thought about dry shampoo, and then explained how she likes to go 7 days without washing her hair. 7 DAYS people. I wish she would've came in on day 7. That would be a sight to see.

Anyway if you haven't tried a dry shampoo before let me know and i'll get you some! Especially for all those exciting camping adventures this summer will bring!  I know im already planning some of mine....Moab, Yellowstone, McCall, Matt Warner...............

Nail Polish Spills

Hey Girls! I found this website BellaSugar.com that has a lot of fun tips and tricks and i thought i would share some with you! I know i have had my fair share of nail polish spills! Most Salons have either nice tile floors or wood floors, its a disaster waiting to happen for Cosmos and Nail Techs! In Cosmo school i remember a girl dropping a bright RED bottle that shattered a crossed the entire pedi area! Too bad we didn't know these tricks back then!

Removing Polish From Wood
First rule: don't use nail polish remover on wood. It actually ruins finishes and leaves new, maybe even worse looking, stains. Don't panic, though, because there's actually a really easy way to fix the polish-on-wood problem. Just spritz your polish puddle down with plenty of hair spray (we use Aqua Net), let it sit for about 20 seconds, and then wipe it off. You might need to repeat the process a few times, but it's far, far preferable to having splotchy furniture.

Removing Polish From Cloth
Probably one of the most common polish problems, this is also a tricky one. Nail polish remover can interact with some dyes and fabrics (it'll actually melt acetate), so perform a spot test before you use it. If you use remover on your fabric, make sure to launder it directly afterward. And if remover isn't an option, you can always try hair spray. Dry cleaning solvent can also usually remove polish, so if you can't get it out at home, don't be afraid to run it down to your cleaners.

Removing Polish From Hair
If you were in a rush and ended up both ruining your nails and painting up your hair, the fix is pretty simple. If the polish is still wet, just grab some non-acetone polish remover and run it down the polished strands. If it's dry already, work some conditioner or oil gently through your hair until you can slide the polish bits out.

Removing Polish From Carpet
First of all, what color is your carpet? If it's light or white, using a non-acetone polish remover is probably your best bet. If it's dark and you're not sure about whether the dye might interact with it, try pouring on hair spray or rubbing alcohol and then blotting the polish up with a sponge or paper towels. Don't give up if the polish just seems to keep coming — you want to get every last bit out.

Happy Love Day!

Happy Love Day!! (a week late)

There are many different opinions when it comes to Feb. 14th. Here's mine, i LOVE Valentines Day. I think it is as commercialised as you make it. It doesn't have to be all about the girl like some people make it out to be. Who cares if your husband is sweet to you all the other 365 days of the year. I think it is an amazing day set aside for spending quality time and attention to those you love. It doesn't have to be full of fancy, or pricey gifts. Something as simple as dinner with candles and a romantic evening full of love, attention, and affection is all you really need.... (and maybe a flower, and a night full of kissing)

And that is exactly how we celebrated!

I'm soooo blessed to share my love with such an AMAZING and thoughtful husband! He truly is the very best thing that ever happened to me!

Vaseline!

Those of you who grew up with me know that my all time favorite eye make-up remover is Vaseline. For sleep overs, cheerleading competitions, and formal dances, it was a staple. Vaseline is pretty random and common right?! The best part is its cheap and sold everywhere! It even comes in travel sizes!

I have found that it is the most gentle remover you will ever lay your hands on. Not only does it not irritate my eyes, it gently removes mascara (even waterproof) with out doing damage to my lashes in the process. You all should try it! Just be careful you don't get it all over your face. Some websites claim that it won't clog your pores but I'm not so sure about that. =)

So here are my top 5 favorite uses for Vaseline! Try them out and let me know what you think!

1. My favorite use is for taking off your eye make-up at night. Rub the smallest amount on your lashes and then wipe it off with warm water. Your mascara or false eyelashes seriously slide right off! Plus the Vaseline leaves a healthy, conditioning layer on your lashes while you sleep!

2. Try using it to soften dry and cracked elbows/hands.

3. Use it to soften dry cuticles.

4. For kissable, luscious lips, spread some on your lips overnight as well!

5. You can use it to prevent spray-tan streaks: Rub all over the backs of your knees, ankles and hands to fight frightening spray tan lines.

My 2012 Beauty Goals!

Happy New Years everyone!! I hope everyone has had as much fun making goals for 2012 as i have!! These are my beauty related goals for 2012!

Drink at least 2 bottles of water a day!

(this may not seem like much but im used to drinking none)
Make working out become more of a habit. Im good for 3 days a week, but i would like to kick it up a notch. I don't have an exact weight im trying to get down to. I know numbers on a scale won't make me happy, but working out and eating healthy will. If i lose weight in the process then GREAT!!

I want to eat healthy. My body doesn't do well with excessive fat, carbs, and sugar. (expecially since i don't have a gal bladder) Everything in moderation right?! I am going to fit in more protein, and fiber!

Im going to take off my make-up every night before bed! My skin and eyelashes will thank me! Being a newlywed made it so that i didn't want to climb in bed without looking my best ;) but that's stupid reasoning because my husband loves how i look without makeup! I just need to get over it and take it off!

(these are my favorite makeup removers ever, besides good ole Vaseline, ill post on that subject another time though)

So what are some of your beauty goals for 2012?

Newport, RI

We are having soo much fun on the east coast! Yesterday we drove to Newport, Rhode Island! It is one of the coolest little towns we have been! Imagine Park City or Balboa Island, but East Coast style! We want to spend an entire week or two there...one day! This is one of the Mansions we toured, The Breaker Mansion!

It is sooo old and beautiful inside! The walls are painted with gold and platinum! The Vanderbilt family was soo unbelievably wealthy! It was great inspiration/motivation! ;)

This is the restaurant we ate at on main street! Its the Brick Ally Pub. We ate the BEST lobster bisque and clam chowder! No one makes it quite like the east coast! We also enjoyed this massive burger! haha!
I hope everyone had an awesome Christmas! We sure are loving our break!! Have a Happy New Years!!

Merry Christmas!

I am sooo happy the holidays are finally here! We are spending them in Connecticut with my Mom, Stepdad, and my brother Chan!!!!! Im loving every second of being here with them! I just wish Mal and Landon could join us! One day!? So here are some holiday videos I wanted to share with you all! Hopefully it will help bring the spirit of Christmas into your home!




I wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!! This is one of my favorite Christmas songs! I think it is a nice reminder to "Let Him In". I love my Savior Jesus Christ, and i am also thankful for everyone who sacrificed so much to bring him into this world.





This is my VERY favorite Christmas movie! If you have never seen it, you need to! At least skip to the last 20 mins and watch! Merry Christmas everyone!!

Tempting.....

So I have been fighting the major itch to cut my hair short again! Which is funny because i finally feel like my hair is the length i was wishing it was for the past 3 years haha! Isn't that that way it always goes!? Anyway i saw these pictures of Katy Perry and fell in love with her hair! I LOVE the cut! The color is cute too, but i wouldn't want it for myself! I promised myself that i wouldn't cut my hair until after my sister's wedding in Febuary! So heres to keeping that promise! AHHHH!

Shirt Skirt!

I found this idea on Pinterest this past week!!! Except i don't know who to give the credit to, there wasn't a link attatched! Anyway I love it! And now i know what to do with all Bryce's button ups that he doesn't wear very often!

Step 1- Take a Men's button up shirt and do it up like 3/4th of the way!

Step 2- Step into the shirt, tuck in the collar, and do up as many more buttons as needed!

Step 3- Take the arms and tie them into a knot or bow!
Step 4- Tuck the extra fabric into the folds created by the arms!

Step 5- Enjoy your new skirt!!

Here is mine!

Traveling for Thanksgiving?!

In one week exactly we will be headed to Utah for Thanksgiving! I am seriously sooo excited! The reasons for my excitement include.....

1. Seeing and spending time with family, family, and more family!
2. Eating a Pork Salad at Cafe Rio!
3. Spending time with friends!
4. Eating at all the frozen yogurt shops!
5. Wedding dress shopping with Mal!
6. Eating at Wingers!
7. Shopping!!!
8. Eating at the best Japanese place ever, Koyo!
9. Possible black friday crazyness!
10. Getting to spend 5 days straight with my sweetheart!

(yes i know most of them include eating, don't judge ;) )

Im sure some of you will be traveling for the holidays as well! I saw this amazing idea and had to share it! You can use a Pot Holder to keep your flat/curling irons safe during your trip!!!!

Smart right?! I thought so too! Im used to wrapping t-shirts around mine! Now im not sure how the inside of a pot holder would hold up to heat, so i don't recommend putting them in while still hot! You can even buy pot holders at the dollar store! Super cheap and super handy! I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving! I know i have sooo much to be thankful for!!

Winter Toes

So a while back i got these "pedi socks" free with the purchase of an OPI nail polish! I thought they were ridiculous and stupid, and i almost threw them away! My husband being the smart man that he is told me not to. I mean they were free and super super soft......and he thought that they made me look like a sexy gymnast/80's chick. haha. (sorry the pic was taken with an itouch so its not great)

So every year once winter hits i paint my nails and am left to freeze to death for an hour while my toe nails dry.

I mean the worst thing ever is when you paint your toe nails and then put on socks or go to bed only to wake up with thread imprints all over them!! am i right or what!?

So finally this past week i buckled down and put on my sexy "pedi socks" and...........I LOVE THEM!! It was amazing! I was kept warm and toasty AND my nails didn't get ruined! (and i may or may not of gotten lucky because of them ;) )

My point is....since they were a one time promotion and i can't seem to buy more pairs of them... i plan on making some, and you should too! It would be super easy to re-purpose an old sweater, old socks, old mittens, leg warmers, etc......

I will see what i can do about that, and maybe do a follow up post on what i come up with! Let me know if any of you do too! I promise you wont be disappointed!

Fixing Broken Powder Cosmetics!

Hey, so i found this AWESOME post on pinterest! It is genious and i can't wait to try it out! You can see the real post at www.painted-ladies.com!

Breaking Down Beauty: Fixing Broken Powder Cosmetics
By Sheila

So, you have a favorite eyeshadow, pressed powder, or blush you absolutely cannot live without. Life happens, and sometimes before you even realize it, you find yourself the owner of your favorite product, smashed into 5 million little pieces.

When your powder cosmetics are broken into 5 million pieces, you can always put them in a small container and use as a loose shadow, but you DO have the option of fixing the products so it’s almost as good as new.

It’s easy! I mean it! You’ll thank me!

The only extra product you’ll need is Rubbing Alcohol that you can get from any old drugstore.

Here is a lovely L’Oreal H.I.P. #319 eyeshadow that was sadly broken upon arrival.

Step 1: Dump the shadow into a small bowl. You can use an extra makeup brush to get the original container clean.

Step 2: Use the back of a brush to crush the shadow into a fine powder.



Step 3: I used the cap to my rubbing alcohol as a measurement and poured it into the container with the shadow. Make sure to mix well until you end up with a paste! Start off by slowly adding the alcohol, to make sure you don’t make the mixture too watery. In the case that happens, it’s all good – it will just take a bit longer for the shadow to dry down.

I used a wooden stirrer that I had lying around, but you can use a spoon or anything you want.

Step 4: You’ll have a paste that you will mold into the original shadow container. Try to make it as even as possible! You will be able to make little adjustments later!

Step 6: Time goes by ….. and after a couple of hours you can see the powder coming together. You can use a piece of fabric (or in my case a paper towel), tohelp mold the shadow and also give it a nice finish. Afterwards, leave it alone for several hours.



Step 7: All set! When all is said and done, it took around 8 hours or so to complete! Not bad!

Newspaper Nails

So I am in love with newspaper nails! They are sooo hot for fall! I found this awesome and super simple how to video on youtube! I can't wait to do mine! Enjoy!

Beauty From Home!

Beauty Recipes
From The Kitchen

If you have spent the summer in the sun and the water, it's time to start reviving your hair for fall. If your hair is dry, damaged, and has lost its shine, you can revitalize it with a homemade hair mask. These masks use healthy ingredients from your kitchen to hydrate and rejuvenate your hair.

Banana avocado mask

It doesn't sound appetizing at all, but you aren't supposed to eat it. Instead, slather your hair in this rich mask to bring back its luster.

Ingredients
•1 medium banana
•1 egg
•1/2 avocado
•2 Tbsp honey
•3 Tbsp buttermilk
•3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Directions
1.Mash banana, egg and avocado in a small bowl.
2.Add remaining ingredients and stir until well combined.
3.Apply to hair from roots to tips.
4.Leave in for 30 minutes and then wash out with a moisturizing shampoo.
5.Double the recipe for long hair.
6.Use once a month to maintain healthy hair.


Yogurt hair mask

For dry, frizzed out hair, this recipe will bring back the moisture, leaving your hair silky and manageable.

Ingredients
•1 egg white
•1/4 cup plain organic yogurt
•1/4 cup mayonnaise

Directions
1.Beat egg white until frothy.
2.Mix with yogurt and mayonnaise.
3.Massage into wet hair.
4.Cover with plastic shower cap or plastic wrap.
5.Leave in for 30 minutes, then wash out with a mild shampoo.
6.Rinse with very cold water.
7.Use monthly to moisturize hair.

Fall Fun!

It is beautiful here! We are having a blast and taking advantage of such nice weather! This past week we picked pumpkins at Wilson's Orchard, and played 18 holes of golf at Finkbine!

They have the very best apple cider slushes and apple turnovers!!

The orchard is so pretty!!

One of the many cute squirrels outside our apartment! I love them!!

There was a wild turkey on the tee box!!

I love the Hawkeyes on the flags!

Bryce played an AMAZING game!

Fall is Here!

I am sooo excited fall is finally here! I love the cool mornings and the warm afternoons! I was even able to play 18 holes of golf this wee,k while being surrounded by beautiful fall leaves! It was awesome! And I can't even tell you how much i LOVE all the cute squirrels that run around my apartment complex with their cheeks full of nuts!

Fall Fashion is one of my favorites too! I love all the browns, coppers, reds, and golds! Sweatshirts, boots, scarves....the list goes on and on! So to celebrate fall i decided i would post some fall 2011 hair trends! Enjoy!

•Two trends that come back season after season are the timeless ponytail and the loose, side braid. For fall 2011, the ponytail gets a glam, sleek, strict update (Marc Jacobs, Gucci, Aquilano.Rimondi, Louis Vuitton, Valentino, Max Azria, Lela Rose, Versace, Paul & Joe). The result is impeccable, almost perfect, with a hair section wrapped around the elastic band securing the ponytail. As for the braid,make sure to keep it loose and messy, like a bed head braid! Add feathers to either look for a trendy flair!