Lulus.com Fashion Blog » Allie Paxton

Hair Care Tips for Damaged Hair

Allie Paxton — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

I am always looking for new ways to properly take care of my hair. I have gone through so many different kinds of product trying to find the perfect one. After a lot of time and money, I am happy to share what I have discovered with you. From the best affordable products to natural hair care tips, this blog will be sure to heal your roots and leave your hair looking sleek and classic. We all have damaged hair, so here are some ways to heal your lovely locks.

This seems almost too obvious, but many people never brush their hair. When you brush your hair from the roots to the ends, this spreads the natural oils in your hair and moisturizes your scalp.

Vitamins are a great way to attain healthy and beautiful hair. The vitamins that promote healthy hair are Vitamin A, C, E, B12, B6, and Fish Oil pills.

This product is amazing and costs under $5. This is a light cream that leaves your hair smelling great. I love this cream so much because it doesn’t leave my hair oily.

This is a wonderful serum that protects your hair from damage. I like to put this on before I use any kind of heat on my hair. This has actually made my hair grow a little easier. Be careful not to use too much or else it will get greasy.

This is a special, deep conditioner that stimulates the scalp and revitalizes your hair. I love this conditioner because it smells so good and works really well. I use this 3-4 times a week to get the best results.

This is a hydrating microcrystalline treatment mask Highly enriched with karit butter to moisturize and restructure your hair. The price somes in at just under $20, but it is so worth it and lasts a long time.

The biggest thing to keep in mind is that you are what you eat. If you eat healthy and workout, you will not only have a healthy body but also healthy hair! Do you have any tips or tricks you have discovered for helping out damaged hair? Leave a comment and let us know!

The post Hair Care Tips for Damaged Hair appeared first on Lulus.com Fashion Blog.

Betty White Turns 90: The Queen of Entertainment

Allie Paxton — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:00:00 +0000

Ninety years ago today a wonderful lady was born named Betty Marion White. Miss White is truly a relic of a time that has passed. She has been in the entertainment business since 1939 and has been keeping her career strong with her current hit show, Hot In Cleveland. There is something about Betty’s charisma that is encapsulating, making you want to reach out and give her a hug. Whenever anyone asks Betty why she won’t retire, she replies, “Why should I quit when I’m having such a good time?”

Betty White began her career modeling after gradating high school and then joined the American Women’s Voluntary Services during World War II. After working with a variety of radio shows, she finally landed her own, The Betty White Show. The next milestone in her career was her role as Sue Ann Nivens in The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Her next major career highlight was her role as Rose Nylund in The Golden Girls. I am probably the biggest Golden Girls fan I know and it is all because of Betty.

Betty White’s career has spanned over seven decades and counting, and now her life is eclipsing nine. She has won seven Emmy awards, among countless others, and was included in Television’s Hall of Fame in 1955, a mere 16 years into her amazing career. I cannot wait to see what Betty White still has in store for us. Below you can see her getting some lip action for hottie Zachary Levi for her 90th birthday celebration!

Happy birthday Betty from all of us here at Lulu*s, we love you!

The post Betty White Turns 90: The Queen of Entertainment appeared first on Lulus.com Fashion Blog.

4 Cute and Easy DIY Ornaments!

Allie Paxton — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Every year, as soon as Thanksgiving is over, I rush to take out my holiday decorations and begin to spread the holiday cheer. There is nothing like decorating on the weekend while listening to Bing Crosby and planning your holiday baking. Every year I make a new ornament for my tree, and it’s become one of my favorite holiday traditions. I love homemade ornaments not only because they are unique, but because they add a special feeling to each tree. I came across some pretty amazing ideas, check them out!

This is super easy! All you need is spare yarn, thread and clear ornament blubs. You can manipulate the yarn and string by braiding, knoting, or just bundling. Stuff it into the clear bulb, seal, and you’re done. Be sure to use different colors of yarns and string to give it that extra pop!

You can take newspaper or magazine clippings to create a collage with Mod Podge on ornaments. It is a really simple and fun craft to do with family, friends, and little ones. All you do is apply a layer of Mod Podge on the ornament. Take the clippings and place them on the glue. After you let it dry, coat a layer of Mod Podge all over the ornament. Before it dries, you can sprinkle some glitter to add that extra sparkle. Or, if you love the example above, wait until it dries and you can paint your own image!

Simply take a holiday themed cookie cutter and place it on a decorative paper a photo you love. With a pencil, trace around the surface of the cookie cutter. Use scissors to cut out the shape and glue it to the back of the cookie cutter. These beauties are perfect because they add a quirky, yet special personal touch to the tree.

Get some clear ornament bulbs and squirt about a teaspoon of paint inside. I like to use two or three different colors. Then cover the opening with your thumb and shake the bulb. Or, if you want to take a little more time, drip your paint down the inside, and tilt to move the paint and give a drip effect. This will bring a lot of color to your tree!

And don’t forget…

xoxo

The post 4 Cute and Easy DIY Ornaments! appeared first on Lulus.com Fashion Blog.

Beauty How-to: What to Do with Broken Eye Shadows

Allie Paxton — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Don’t you hate it when you drop your favorite eye shadow on the ground and see the pressed powder crumbling once you pick it up? Whenever I had this happen to me I would throw it in my makeup drawer and it would get buried amongst my other forgotten cosmetics. This was a regular occurrence until recently, I found a great way to use your crumbled polish to make awesome nail art. Using your broken eye shadows on your nails creates a matte finish polish that gives your nails a fresh look without breaking the bank.

1. Take the broken shadow and pour a little into a small bowl.

2. Drip about 20 drops of clear polish into the small bowl. If you are feeling creative, you can also add different colors of your choice to create inventive, new color choices.

3. Swirl the mixture together with a toothpick until the polish has evenly mixed with the polish. Add more polish if you need the mixture thinner, add a dash more powder if you need to thicken.

4. Once the mixture is complete quickly polish your nails since the mixture dries quickly.

I love the options of limitless variations with this nail art idea. You can even do this on the ends of your nails or some glitter to give a colorful remix to the classic French manicure.

If you want to fix your eye shadow afterwards, here is an easy way how:

1. Dump the eye shadow into a small bowl and use an eye shadow brush to wipe the container clean.

2. Use the end of the brush and crush the remaining chunks into a fine powder.

3. Pour a teaspoon of rubbing alcohol into the small bowl. Mix well into a paste with a small spoon.

4. Scoop the paste from the small bowl and pour into the original containers. Spread evenly throughout container.

5. Place aside and let sit for about eight hours. After the eye shadow has set, your eye shadow will come back to life once it has dried!

This should keep you all busy for a bit!

xoxo

The post Beauty How-to: What to Do with Broken Eye Shadows appeared first on Lulus.com Fashion Blog.

Naturally Beautiful: 5 Easy Skin Care Tips

Allie Paxton — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Face it: your skin protects and covers everything inside of your body and should be tended to and cared for. It is easy to care for your skin without the expensive creams and washes you find at every department store. There are many agents that are essential to the well-being of your skin such as proper diet, exfoliation, and constant attention. Also, there are many things that are around the house that you can use to care for your skin.

1. Drink Water

Water is an essential facet in having healthy skin. When you hydrate your body, it is able to release the toxins within, bathing your cells and eliminating waste products.

2. Diet

If you add fruits, veggies, and fiber to your daily diet your skin will be thanking you. One thing to be VERY conscious of is to avoid an excess of sugar intake. Sweets are a leading cause of acne. Don’t fully deprive yourself! I LOVE dark chocolate, but everything needs to be consumed in moderation in order to not see the effects on your skin.

3. Cleanse

It is essential to find a proper cleaner to wash your day away from your face. Avoid bar soaps because they tend to dry out the skin. There is no reason anyone should have to feel that they have to pay over $40 for a proper facial wash. Try any Neutrogena products, they are my absolute fav. Also, be careful not to cleanse too often. I suggest once in the morning and once at night for a sweet and happy glow.

4. Exfoliate

Exfoliation helps to reduce the occurrence of acne and blackheads. If skin cells are not properly exfoliated, your skin does not properly absorb moisture. This makes your skin cells dry out and find trouble breathing, thus causing breakouts. Also, proper skin exfoliation reduces the signs of aging. Exfoliation helps to gently rid your skin of thick and damaged skin cells, making your skin look brighter and replenished.

The best way to exfoliate is to use any over-the counter product that has thick cleaning beads. My favorite is Oil of Olay’s Professional Pro X Exfoliating Renewal. Also, a recipe you can use from products from your kitchen is a wonderful natural way to exfoliate. Here is an amazing recipe my mom has used since the 70′s

Milk and Honey Almond Scrub

*1 tsp of Skin or 2% Milk

*1 tsp of Cream

*2 tsp of Honey

*1/3 Cup of Granulated Sugar

*1 tbs of ground almonds

Simply mix all together. Make sure the mixture isn’t too oily or grainy. This smells so fresh and fabulous and leaves your skin feeling silky smooth!

5. Moisturize

It is absolutely a treat for your skin when you properly moisturize. Moisturizers seal moisture into the skin, preventing it from drying out and getting tough. Do not over-moisturize because this will clog your pores. The main time I moisturize is after I exfoliate since this is when my skin is the most dry. Also, many moisturizers I get contain SPF to protect my skin from the sun’s harmful rays.

Basically, when you are healthy – your skin is healthy. Use your best judgment and reap the benefits of beautiful and healthy skin!

The post Naturally Beautiful: 5 Easy Skin Care Tips appeared first on Lulus.com Fashion Blog.

Beauty How-To: Reverse Tips Manicure

Allie Paxton — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Ladies, it is time to flip things around! The Reverse French Manicure is an awesome trend that I have had my eyes on for quite some time. Recently, I was finally brave enough to try it and I am absolutely enthralled with this amazing nail trend.

What I love most about it is that you can mix and match colors and add a number of variations to keep your nails looking sassy and amazing without over-doing the trend.

What You Need:

*Top Coat

*Base Coat

*Two Different Nail Colors

*Sheet of Computer Paper

Process:

1. Apply a base coat on your nails

2. After base coat has dried, apply a layer of your first polish. Let dry.

3. Tear off an end of the computer paper and use the straight edges as a stencil.

4. Place it near your cuticle with some space reserved for you other polish to show.

5. Paint your other polish on the end of your nail with the paper as your barrier. This provides for a neat and clean divider. I would suggest a dark color to cover the other polish completely on top.

6. Once dry, apply a top coat.

Feel free to use a glitter polish instead of another color to add some variation to your look. You can also choose where you paper divider lies if you wish to have something other than a straight border.

Can you think of any awesome combinations for this nail trend?

The post Beauty How-To: Reverse Tips Manicure appeared first on Lulus.com Fashion Blog.

New Leo Movie Alert: J. Edgar

Allie Paxton — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:00:00 +0000

Ever since Titanic, I made a vow to see every Leonardo DiCaprio movie that was released. J. Edgar, Leo’s new film highlights the rise and transformation of the FBI leader, J. Edgar Hoover. The movie gives the audience a view of the man who loved secrecy and rule-bending for the good of his country. To tell you the truth, I didn’t know much about the guy until I saw this film and I had mixed emotions.

Hoover began his career with good intentions and devoted himself to chasing down criminals and punishing them appropriately. As his fame developed, however, he became more secretive and paranoid. DiCaprio amazingly executes his role, which spanned from Hoover in his twenties until the age of 77. DiCaprio underwent many hours of makeup to look the part of Hoover in his old age. It is weird to see Leo look so old and is it odd I still find him attractive? Anyways, Leo makes this movie worth seeing alone.

I am a sucker for any period piece film and what I enjoyed most about this movie was the costumes. I loved all of the fedoras and pea coats and saw myself become distracted from the plot as a result of my fashion curiosity. Since the movie covers such a large time span, one really gets an idea of the way fashion transformed as much as Hoover.

Overall, I’d give the movie a 3.5 out of five. The costumes were great and anything with Leo will be an okay film in my book.

(photos courtesy of movieweb)

The post New Leo Movie Alert: J. Edgar appeared first on Lulus.com Fashion Blog.

Interior Design How-to: 7 Fun Wall Decor Ideas

Allie Paxton — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 09:00:00 +0000

I recently moved and realized how hard it was to fill up the blank wall space in my apartment. After reading multiple magazines for sources of inspiration and careful creativity, I finally found some awesome ways to spruce up my home. You will absolutely love these creative ways to liven up your walls, and they will be sure to keep you busy!

1. Full on Art Walls

Looking at walls full of different pictures in various frames reminds me of being in an antique shop, and I absolutely love the vintage feel it gives any room. Grab all sorts of different frames varying in color, shape, and size and frame anything from photos, newspaper clippings, art, or fashion magazine pages. This brings a sort of liveliness to a room that just can’t be beat.

2. Actual Book Shelves

I absolutely love the concept of these bookshelves. Just get a shelf hook and place your favorite books on them. These are so cute and extremely simple to execute!

3. Arranging Photos in Specific Ways

Anyone can just hang up pictures in a straight line on a wall. But to me, that can get very boring and calls for a makeover. I love the concept of arranging photos on the wall in anyway you wish. One of my best friends just did this in the shape of a peace sign, and it was amazing!

4. Painting the Walls

If you are a good painter, then feel free to do something a little more complex than the picture that is shown above. However, painting is a skill I lack, so I prefer easy things that are hard to mess up. If you are still weary of painting on your walls, try wall decals. They vary from text to pictures but are extremely easy to use and look just like you painted them on!

5. Buttoning the Walls

I did this in my grandma’s craft room upon her request. I simply hot-glued vintage buttons on the wall, and it turned out great! It can be time-consuming, and make sure you have a level and a ruler if you want to keep the buttons in an even line!

6. Empty Frames on the Walls

Something I love to collect are vintage picture frames. I realized that I had so many lying around without pictures in them and something needed to be done. Some picture frames are so ornate that they speak for themselves. I love the idea of just putting these up without anything in them because it allows the viewer to fill in the blanks and imagine something themselves. Try painting the frames to match an accent color or use the same color as your wall to just add some texture!

7. Plates on the Walls

As an avid thrifter, I love to collect vintage plates. If you go to Michaels, you can get wire plate hangers that clip on to the plate and allow you to rest it on a hook. I love this interior design idea because it is definitely a conversation starter and adds so much color to a room without painting the walls.

Now start decorating!

(photos courtesy of pinterest and weheartit)

The post Interior Design How-to: 7 Fun Wall Decor Ideas appeared first on Lulus.com Fashion Blog.

Trend Alert: Chunky Sweaters with Maxi Skirts

Allie Paxton — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:00:00 +0000

I love maxi skirts. Other than the obvious reasons, want to know why? I can wear them for the majority of the year. When it was warmer out, I would pair my maxi skirt with a cute tank, or an off-the-shoulder tee. Now that it is cool, I can match my maxi skirt with a fabulous chunky sweater and some boots. Basically, this trend makes me a very happy gal.

Here are a few fabulous Lulu*s options to get you on board with this trend:

Chunky Sweaters:

Soda Springs Olive Green Sweater Appalachia Lore Purple Sweater

Maxi Skirts:

Mink Pink Wild Thing Maxi Mink Pink Bad Romance Maxi

(images courtesy of Pinterest.com)

The post Trend Alert: Chunky Sweaters with Maxi Skirts appeared first on Lulus.com Fashion Blog.

Professional Presentation: How to Dress For An Interview

Allie Paxton — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 09:00:00 +0000

Got an interview swiftly approaching and simply cannot decide on something to wear? I can help.

It can be quite nerve-racking when you are trying to pick out the perfect outfit for a big interview. First impressions are everything and the way you initially present yourself says a lot. I have compiled a number of different outfits for a few various job interviews. This is just a broad guideline, so please feel free to mix and match as you please!

Administrative/ Secretarial

For this look, I think you shouldn’t be too dressy. A skirt would be perfect with a pretty top neatly tucked in. Don’t over accessorize – just a simple silver bracelet or some pearl earrings. Don’t have a flashy purse either, you want to look professional, but also approachable. Add a cute little blazer to match and your look is complete.

Get the look:

Dress: Sugar Pie Ruffle Red Dress, Blazer: Business Boom Tweed Blazer, Bag: Carry On Mustard Yellow Purse, Shoes: Chinese Laundry New Love Black Pumps, Necklace: Subtle Indulgence Blue Teardrop Necklace.

Instructional

If you are trying to get a job in the education field, I would say it is okay to be a little more dressy in this case. I would suggest a dress, or a skirt, that goes past your knees with a flowy blouse that shows absolutely no cleavage. Match with a beautiful handbag, some simple heels, and some pretty jewelry and you are set.

Get the look:

Skirt: Forever and a Day Black Skirt, Top: Butter Rum Sheer Yellow Top, Shoes: Qupid Nadine 47 Red Burnished Braided Pumps, Tights: Hoodwinked Print Brown Tights, Bag: Obey Victoria Taupe Vegan Leather Handbag, Rings: The Alchemist Oval Gold Ring, Bracelet: Foreign Strands Chain Ring.

Sales and Marketing

With this ensemble, I would suggest an outfit that shows you know what you want. With sales, you have to present yourself well, in addition to performing to the best of your abilities. These two attributes coupled with a positive attitude will be sure to nail you that job. I would suggest a beautiful pencil skirt with some traditional black pumps and a matching black blazer. Match this outfit with a beautiful and bold bag and you will be sure to nail the interview!

Get the look:

Skirt: Final Draft Navy Blue Pencil Skirt, Top: Collective Concepts Golden Dlobe Teal Top, Jacket: Sands of San Sebastian Ivory Crop Jacket, Shoes: Qupid Onyx 43 Dark Taupe Curvy Platform Pumps, Earrings: Clear As Crystal Bronze Earrings, Bag: Madrid Maneuver Red Handbag.

Public Relations

Flashy is the best policy. Maybe I have watched Sex and the City too much with Samantha Jones sporting her best Gucci shoes and Chanel earrings, but I believe it is essential to over accessorize and wear your most expensive heels for this type of interview. The main thing I would advise is not wear too much makeup or perfume, that would just make a lovely look a little tacky.

Get the look:

Blazer: Be Like Blake Cropped Black Blazer, Jumpsuit: Lake Balaton Rust Orange Jumpsuit, Necklace: Zad Shield Armor Gold Necklace, Shoes: Qupid Neutral 173 Nude Two-Tone Patent Strappy Platform Pumps, Purse: Nine to Five Structured Black Handbag.

Fashion Industry

This is where I would suggest going all out. Wear your best accessories and your amazing heels. You want to create a bold statement with your outfit, giving the impression that the world is yours. The fashion industry is much more liberated than most other industries, where you can reveal your creativity through your outfit. I would suggest a bold nail polish to complete the look!

Get the look:

Dress: Motel Jenna City Scene Black Print Dress, Blazer: BB Dakota Byron Brown Blazer, Shoes: Luichiny Luv Lee Purple Combo Suede Color Block Platform Pumps, Bangles: Metals of Honor Bangle Set, Ring: Ad Hawk Gold Bird Ring, Belt: Fallen Leaf Black Belt, Purse: Moped Chronicles Fringe Blue Leather Purse.

Technical

This is an industry that has a very ‘get down to business’ look so you don’t want to be too flashy. I would suggest a pair of pants, a pretty blouse, and some flats. Match with a small handbag and some simple earrings and you are ready. I also suggest wearing your hair back to give a neat and polished look. Bring a sweater as well, since most of those office buildings are freezing.

Get the look:

Top: Enchanted Spirit Long Sleeve Cream Top, Pants: BB Dakota Hadley Black Pants, Blazer: Christie Brinkley Light Blue Blazer, Shoes: Chelsea Crew Leila Blue and White Spectator Flats, Earrings: Zad New Peacock on the Block Feather Earrings, Necklace: Twig Time Gold Leaf Necklace, Ring: Wingtip Silver Feather Ring, Bag: League of Extraordinary Gentlewomen Green Handbag.

Creative Arts

Similar to the fashion industry, a career in creative arts also has a much more liberating style. Whether you are going to be an art curator, art teacher, or a gallery attendant, you will be sure to rock the interview. I would suggest some three inch heels, nothing too high and overwhelming. A flowy and simple dress with a light blazer and an airy scarf. Adorn some simple earrings and wear your hair in loose curls. Something about even describing this outfit makes me want to go to a museum so I can sport this look!

Get the look:

Top: Abbey Road Long Sleeve Navy Blue Top, Maxi Skirt: Mink Pink Bad Romance Red Floral Maxi Skirt, Bag: Fair and Square Brown Leather Handbag, Bracelet: Quill Call Feather Friendship Bracelet, Ring: Ozma Green Rhinestone Ring, Necklace: Lift Off Gold Feather Necklace, Shoes: Chelsea Crew Sari Taupe Suede Oxford Wedges.

Enjoy looking classy, ladies

xoxo

(All outfits compiled by yours truly on polyvore.com)

The post Professional Presentation: How to Dress For An Interview appeared first on Lulus.com Fashion Blog.