Makeup Storage Train Case

I got a couple questions when I used to do videos (a long long time ago!) about where I keep all my hair/makeup stuff. While for the most part I keep my everyday stuff in the bathroom, I'm really excited about this new purchase. A new makeup case! I had to air it out (it smelled super plastic-y!), but it fits all my goodies, even a spot for Luann (my hair head!)

Open House Photos!

It has taken me a couple weeks to fully recover from all the fun of our ribbon-cutting open house! My family all came (even my cousin<3 ), and I got to give them a tour of my classroom, the school, and my favorite part - the chairs where I can now take clients!

Me and my girl Carly (I did her makeup)

Tiff and baby girl with one of her favorites: "cuPkeke"

 My cousin - so purdy!

You read that right - I can now accept clients! I am so excited and I can't wait 'til I have several appointments under my belt.

Open House

Hello, hello. Just wanted to put up the flyer for my academy's open house gala next Monday. It will be a lot of fun! You can see our studio where the students work on clients for hair, spa, makeup and more!
I hope to see you there!

Mom Makeover!

I told you last week I would get around to showing you the before and after of my mom's trip to my hair chair, and here it is!

I love the way it turned out, and everyone seems to agree. The shorter layers give her thin, fine hair some extra body, but she's still able to throw it up in a ponytail when she goes to zumba! I love being able to give my mom a new look she likes, and all the while help me get better at my skills!

School and Eyes

Hey everyone! Another quick update: this week is my "final" for the first zone. I have to cut, bleach and style hair on a REAL person, haha. Luckily, my mom is super supportive and she is my volunteer.
I will share some before and afters later, but today I wanted to show you some eyes.
No, not eyeballs (gross!).
Since my "uniform" for school is black, I thought I should make more of an effort to spice up my eyes (maybe next week - lips?) with different shadows and contours.
Here's a few from this last week:

I call them: Blue Velvet, Tequila Sunrise and Cloudy Day #2. What do you think?

Daily Dishonesty

My sister sent me a link to this print from Daily Dishonesty and just had to laugh.

I love my heels (and the good ones don't hurt)!

Little School Update

I am more than halfway through the first "zone" in school, and it seems like it has flown by! Getting all my tools organized, bonding with "Luann" (that's what I named my hair head), learning so much!

Here's my head, in various stages of hairstyles. It got me thinking about all the different styles I've had, just in the last 3 years! The last pic is of me in 2010, I think. I can't wait to grow my hair out again - going back to school has given me more inspiration to try different styles.

But, while I'm working on growing my hair out, I love the short look I have right now. I had my wife cut the side last week (she was so nervous - haha!) to make it more asymmetrical, and I love how it lengthens my neck.

Good Fortune

I got this fortune the other day and I can only take it

that going back to school for something I love is going to mean good things for me!

Happy New Year!

It has been a crazy couple months since I wrote about going back to school! Not only because of juggling school and home life, but the holidays made it even more hectic! It feels like it was ages ago already, but here's a few pics of our adventures!

 

We took the Polar Express in Northern Arizona! Of course we took Nana and Poppy, and baby girl was dressed in her "Cahdnls" (Cardinals) gear, under her coat.

While Christmas shopping, I managed to find some cute finds (but for my piggy bank's sake, I left them at the store!). I love the little bow on these gloves. I didn't think I would ever wear leather pants, but these ones were kind of cute. And that cape was seriously gorgeous!

 We also made it down to Glendale Glitters to see all the lights around the park. Reina loved the blinking ones. 

It was nice seeing so much family and getting to talk to everyone about starting school, but I am excited to get back into a normal routine!

Cranberry Smoke Eyes

Hey everyone! I thought I'd share the latest video I made (more than a month old - I need to get crackin on a new one!), about using a toned-down cranberry color, the perfect red for winter months. Hope you like it!

Follow along

Hey!

Its been a long time a since Ive been on here and I want to say that I'm going to be better and say all these wonderful things like I'm going to be better but honestly I don't know Im busy already and about to  be even more busy. Before I reveal the news I want to say that I'm going to do my best and try to write on here regularly but I can't promise anything, with that being said I am proud to say that I am going to offically finish cosmetology school at a beautiful wonderful private academy that is just so perfect for me! I start offically on December 11th but I am preparing myself now.

I am a bit nervous I haven't been away from reina for more than a few hours at a time since she was born and although the school is only three days a week they are 10 hour days so long story short I think the first week is gonna be rough and I'm sure I'm gonna cry. It'll all be worth it though I'm looking toward the future for my family and myself. I am very excited, nervous, anxious and sad. I am trying to sift through all these emotions and trying to just be happy. Don't get me wrong I am just all these other feelings are clouding it. I'm sure when I start I'll be super happy!!

So I was thinking as I learn some cool facts, ideas, tips and tricks I'd share them with you all so I'm hoping thats something you'll be interested in. I will also be sharing my family life and being a mom, baking so everything. I also am going to be trying to add more videos on youtube. (username: hairandmakeuphowto) So we shall see how this all goes.

I hope you all have a great and wonderful day!!

Ally

Date night

Ahhh date night. My wife and I don't get very many of these with out baby girl, which we don't mind, but it's nice to have time for just the two of us sometimes we get to talk to each other and enjoy alone time.
We went to old Chicago, I had a salad and chicken Mac n cheese it was yummy and Tiffany had steak I think it was ok because she didn't boast about it but she ate it. We each had a drink I had a sunset something it was fruity of course and babe had a crown royal and coke her signature drink. We enjoyed our time together and we are thankful for nana and poppy watching her.

MIA

I know I know I've been gone its been a long time since I last filled you in. There is so much going Reina is growing so fast, I am starting school in two weeks, we are looking to buy a house, I am booking more photo shoots! I am super excited about it all but super nervous too.

Reina is so smart! She can already pull herself up on things and I think she may just skip crawling she goes it but very rarely she rather be up. She recognizes Mickey mouse on the tv and claps quietly when she sees him. She is getting better on the car she doesn't cry as much. She knows where the baby's are in the books she laughs when she sees them.

I am very nervous about school I am taking 3 classes and I feel like that's a lot but with receiving financial aid you have to have a minimum of 6 credits so I'm stuck. I know I can do it I just have to get down to business. I will update you all for sure.

About the house this is a love hate thing. I love the idea of getting a house and hate they we have to move in with my parents.. There is no room for us all and our stuff it's hard

I have more to say but I'm going to get to bed night night


XOXO,

Ally

Restaurant Review: Tacos Atoyac

So my wife and I really love mexican food and especially little hole in the wall places. My mom had found  Tacos Atoyac in the Phoenix magazine, and pointed it out. With Tiffany working so much we hadn't had time to go but my mom and I have and we are in love!!!

Reina loves their coke in a bottle!

my mom trying to figure out the camera haha

Their Guacamole sauce is delicious and spicy too its a perfect addition to their $1 tacos!

My mom got one lengua taco which she said was great!

My mom got their fish tacos which she fell in love with

I got the chicken tacos and I have to admit I have not tried anything else because when I find something I really like I tend to not change it up but I plan on trying something new next time!

They also give you a side of onions and peppers that are to die for! These onions are seriously grilled to perfection! I even got extra last time and ate some by themselves!

Our whole spread. AMAZING!

I took a few pictures of the inside so you could see its very simple which I like they focus more on creating a welcome atmosphere with talking to you and making you feel relaxed rather than have a lot of overhead non-sense. Its great! Dan (one of the owners) is so warm, and welcome he really knows how to make you feel comfortable.

I love churros they are one of my favorite desserts (my sister and I are churro snobs) and they really know how to make them taste great! The sauce is the icing on the cake! ;)

I really give them a thumbs up and 5 stars they are overall great!

XOXO,

Ally

40's style waves

I have been wanting to do a 40's inspired soft waves on my sister since she has been growing her hair out. It so long! I finally got to do so and we even got to make a tutorial on it. So if you have been wanting to see how to achieve this look, look no further...


This was before!

And after! She looks gorgeous! 

I didn't take a step by step picture tutorial but I did make a video

Hope you enjoyed!!

XOXO,

DIY camera bag

This is how I converted my ugly, plain camera bag into a cute and fashionable one!
I used the Nikon camera bag that came with my camera as seen below

So I converted that bag into this one!

Step 1:
Empty out the entire bag 

Step two:
Cut off the flap on top with the yellow trim

I cut as close as I possibly can (there are a few bits left but I'm not worried about it)

If you wanted to get closer you could use a actual razor blade

Step 3:
Cut off the strap (you can leave this on if you want to be able to remove your bag and carry it around set I however did not need to)

Step 4: 
Remove clips from front of bag

I chose to take these off by just undoing the strap rather than cut it off in-case I needed to re-attach them for another reason.


Step 5:
Grab your bag (make sure the size is right)
and clean it out completely

Step 6:
Insert the black bag into your bag of choice

Step 7:

Insert spacers to best fit your items

 Step 8:


Add all of your camera(s) and accessories!

I tried to label everything so you could see how much extra room I had and I still have plenty of room to add other things.


Hope you enjoyed this post!!

XOXO,