I'm a CRAZY Woman!

For those of you who don't know me, I'm a big fan of changing my style. The past three years I decided to switch things up and keep my hair long. Let me tell you, I loved it! It could do so much with it: braids, curl it, straighten it, pony tails, etc. However, recently I looked into the mirror and saw something disgusting. My hair was thin, limp, and falling out due to some health issues. I've also been going through many personal changes and decided it was about time to cut off those long locks!

Here is the before:

total length: about 10-12 inches

And the after:

My incredible boyfriend and me

What a drastic change! I love it though. I will only trust ONE woman with my hair and her name is Paula. Yes, it's a little pricey but to me it's worth every cent.

Originally, I was really worried about what others would think. To many, long hair is a sign of femininity and naturally I wondered if people would mistake me for a boy. I think that having short hair is kind of like being the superhero Daredevil. Allow me to explain.

Daredevil is a comic book superhero who was blinded by a radioactive substance. Since he is devoid of his sense of sight, he has to compensate by intensifying his other senses. By cutting off my obvious sign of femininity I must let it shine through in other ways: my speech, the way I dress, and the way I act. I think if you have short hair you have nothing to hide behind. It's just you and your face for the world to see. I have gotten so many compliments and positive reactions. I know that most of you may not have the courage or the desire to cut your hair as short as I have. Nevertheless, I encourage you to switch up your look! Maybe get some bangs or add layers. It's important to keep your style up to date.

What do you all think? Do you like the cut? Does one need to have long hair to feel or be feminine?

Love,

Anna

Blue-Eyed Beauty

Today I was running around frantically thinking of what to post, when I happened upon this makeup look in my archives. I really like this look for the summer/ spring. It makes me feel so fresh and light! I would especially recommend this makeup for you ladies with blue eyes. Let me tell you why.

Color Theory tells us that complementary colors are across each other on the color wheel. A complement makes the other color seem more intense. If we look at the blues, we can see that reds/oranges are directly across. Therefore, if you really want your blue eyes to POP, I would suggest an orange-y/brown color on the lids.

Eyes: Using my Endless Eyes Pro Eyeshadow Palette by e.l.f I took a light orange-y brown and swept it from the lash line to the crease. In order to make the orange more "quotidiano" I blended a caramel brown in the crease. If you want to make this a lot more funky, I would suggest layering deeper shades of orange in the crease. For eyeliner I used my trusty Ulta automatic eyeliner in cappuccino.

Tip: When I apply eyeliner for daily wear, I start from the center of the eye and extend it towards the outer corner of the eye on both the top and bottom lash lines. Just like wearing that LBD (Little Black Dress) makes you look smaller, rimming the entire eye with a dark eyeliner (especially black) will make the eye appear smaller.

Lips: First I lined and filled in my lips with a light pink lip liner by Rimmel (I lost it though so I can't tell you which color it is). Again, I used the Not So Innocent Pink by jane and went over the lined lip.

Cheeks: Just a quick sweep of Joy by e.l.f. to finish off the look will do!

Love and thoughts of summer!

-Anna

P.S. Find my page on facebook and become a fan. Then post your pictures, comments, questions, etc. It's your space!

Clubbin'

Hello my beauties!

Life is just passing me by too quickly! Only about two weeks of school down and I'm up to my eyelashes in work. However, not too busy to post a new look.

Back in December I went to celebrate my friend Michelle's birthday. Boy oh boy was it fun! We ate at a Puerto Rican restaurant called Sofrito and I have nothing but good things to say about the food (we even got into some of the photographer's pictures). It was worth the hour wait. Anyways, I will fondly name this look Clubbin'.

Eyes: Shadows: Blunt and Oil Slick by Urban Decay and an unknown light bone color.

1. Apply the bone color just under the brow.

2. Sweep Blunt all over the lid to just under the brown bone.

3. Make a C-shape with Oil Slick and blend blend blend with your blending brush.

Eyeliner: Any black eyeliner you may have laying around.

1. Apply half way around the bottom and top as close to the lash line as possible and smudge smudge smudge!

2. Take Oil Slick on a thin angled brush and press into your freshly lined eyes for long-

lasting eyeliner.

Mascara: loads and loads of it.

Lips: I'm actually not exactly sure which colors I used. It was a combination of several light,

blue-based pinks.

Cheeks: e.l.f. mineral blush in Joy.

Currently listening to (500) Days of Summer Soundtrack

Now you're ready to tear up the dance floor!

-Love, Anna

My Favorite Things: Olive Oil

This may seem like the strangest blog post ever, but I love Olive oil. Maybe it's because my last name comes from the Italian meaning someone who grows olives.

Olive oil has many important uses. It has many health benefits including preventing colon cancer and heart disease and lowering the incidence of gallstones. Extra Virgin olive oil, which comes from the first round of pressing also has high levels of antioxidants, Vitamin E, and fatty acids which are extremely important for healthy skin, hair and nails.

My List of Uses for Olive Oil

1. Salad dressing (with a little bit of balsamic vinegar YUM!)

2. Moisturizer

Pour some into your hands and massage onto your face and body. Let it soak in for about 5-

10 minutes and then wipe excess off with a napkin or rag.

3. Hair Treatment

When my hair gets dry and damaged I massage some into my hair and scalp. Let sit for

about 30 minutes, then shampoo and condition.

4. Eye Makeup Remover

Soak a q-tip or a cotton ball in olive oil and gently rub to remove any remaining eye

makeup.

5. Cooking

So many uses for it in cooking! Use as a substitute for butter when cooking eggs or sauteing vegetables. Drizzle on pasta for a quick and easy sauce. The possibilities are endless.

Follow in the path of the Ancient Greeks and Romans and utilize olive oil!

Love, Anna

Pep Talk

Happy New Year to you all!

I don't know about you, but I happen to love this time of the year! I feel like I'm pulling out a crisp, white piece of paper to write on. It's a time to start over, a time to make yourself a better person. As much as I like starting over, I am ashamed to say that I haven't started thinking of resolutions for 2011 until, oh, right about now and I think I will share some of them with you.

1. Get back to the gym. Last year I started an intense workout routine. I was going nearly every day for about an hour and a half. Over the summer I really slacked off and and currently suffering the effects. I used to have so much energy, my clothes fit well, and I just felt incredible overall. Call me cliche, but this is my number one for a reason. Remember, when you look good, you feel good!

2. Post more regularly. I apologize for my lack of consistency! I could list my excuses but at the end of the day, I still only posted once for the month of December. I'm running out of ideas so please, let me know what you would like to see (preferably in writing because I tend to forget). Post something here, send me a message on facebook, or post something on the Mi Trucco page.

3. Do more things that scare me. I would love to try more things. However, sometimes I let that nervousness get in the way. Not this year! "I'm too scared" is not an excuse.

4. Get on a more consistent sleeping schedule. Last semester I was going to bed at 2:00, 3:00, 4:00 in the morning and waking up at 6:30. Other days, I was going to bed at 11:00 or 12:00 and waking up at 8:00. I think I'll have a lot more energy if I go to sleep and wake up at the same time each day.

Also, I found this video a few months ago and thought I would share it with you all. This little girl is just the sweetest thing and when you're feeling down take a hint from her: look in the mirror and tell yourself what a good person you are! Pump yourself up!

Wishing you all the best in 2011!

Anna

Pin-Up Inspired Makeup

The Pin-Up look is probably my favorite one to both wear and apply. I don't know why it's taken me so darn long to put one up! I just absolutely love everything vintage, the women were the epitome of elegance. Sometimes I feel like I am living in the wrong decade.

They key is to not make yourself look too costume-y. You want to have that vintage look with an understated modern twist.

Step 1. Start with prepping the face. You can see how to here.

Step 2. Using my all-time favorite Good Girl color palette buy Ulta I took the lightest bone color and applied it all over from the lash line up to the brow bone. Next, I took the medium shade which is a bronze milk chocolate color with flecks of gold and blended it in the crease.

Step 2a.Then I took my Espresso eyeliner by Ulta and applied it to the top and bottom lash lines, concentrating the color at the outer corner. Smudge. Once the eyeliner was to my liking I took my angled brush and pressed the darkest brown from the previously mentioned palette and pressed it into the eyeliner. This will guarantee it to last all day without smearing or bleeding.

Step 2b.Finally, curl the eyelashes and apply a couple of coats of mascara.

Step 3. After prepping the lips (tips can be found here) I applied Cheerful Cherry lip color from the Mineral Makeup collection by E.L.F.

Step 4. Using your favorite shade of blush, sweep a little color on the cheek bones.

Hot diggety! You look like you're from the 40's, doll face!

The Perfect Nude Lip

I will admit it, this post is a fashion repeat! However, I will be focusing on a different aspect of the look: those luscious lips! For the eye tutorial check out "Prom/ Girl's Night Out".

October was Italian Heritage Month at my university and we closed with a formal dinner. I was embarrassingly overdressed however, I still had a great time. There was great food, good music, and beautiful people!

My room mate Katie and I.

The first step to the perfect nude lip is exfoliation. I like to get a handful of sugar, mix it with a little bit of water, and then rub it vigorously on my lips for a few seconds. Another tip is to brush your lips with your wet toothbrush. Both options work great!

Next, take a little bit of concealer and spread it all over your lips. This helps neutralize the color in your lips in order for them to look more nude.

Recently I was turned on to lip liner. It really is as amazing as they say it is! Unfortunately mine is MIA so I can't tell you what brand or color I used. First line the lips in the pencil (I would recommend staying inside your natural lip line because drawing outside of it will look very costume-like) and then, fill in the entire lip-just like a coloring book.

Then, using a lip brush I went over the lip liner with Not So Innocent Pink by jane. When choosing a nude color, get something with a hint of pink. I've found that anything too brown makes my teeth look yellow.

Optional step: swipe a thin layer of pink or clear gloss for extra plumpness! I used Lip Inflation in Sheer Pink by Sally Hansen.

Love an poofy lips!

Anna