Monthly Archives: December 2013
Oh Brow!
As much as I love beauty products, I also love indulging in beauty maintenance rituals ~ mani, pedis, facials, massages and body scrubs. However, I am very particular about who performs my services. I can’t just settle for any “’round the way” stylist, aesthetician, nail technician, etc.
One thing that I am super picky about is who maintains my eyebrows. For years I was never fully satisfied with my brow service. As luck would have it, walking through Nordstrom’s earlier this year I happened upon Anastasia’s Brow Bar. I’d heard of Anastasia as the brow guru to the Big O ~ one Oprah Winfrey ~ but had no idea that I could experience Anastasia on the East Coast. I immediately made an appointment and one wax in, I was committed! The shape was perfect, and I looked as if I had a mini~lunch time “procedure.” (instant facelift, if you’re in to that type of thing.) Even better, I had six months for Anastasia to get my brows in shape just in time for my August wedding! Lacy Dodge, who performed my service, became MY Anastasia guru and my friend.
I’ve been going around prophesying about Lacy and Anastasia for months, and then it dawned on me that I needed to share the knowledge, so I asked Lacy to serve as a Pretty Domestic guest blogger, and give us the “deets” about eyebrow maintenance and the “Anastasia Way.”
Lacy and Tiresha of Anastasia’s Brow Bar, Nordstrom, Towson, MD
Q1. How did you arrive at Anastasia’s?
I was working at another salon and I was always referring people to Anastasia Beverly Hills products for their eyebrows over any other brand. I did some research and found out that they had brow studios in Nordstrom, and from then on it was my mission to become a brow artist with Anastasia. It was pure luck that the position opened up right around the time that I found out about it!
Q2. You are preaching to the choir with me, but what would you tell Pretty Domestic about what makes the Anastasia method so proven and popular?
The Anastasia method is unlike any other brow waxing service. You will not find a service like ours anywhere else. The brow waxing service includes eyebrow measuring, waxing, tweezing, and trimming. We also diagnose any problem areas, develop a plan to improve those areas, and send you home with the proper products to fill yours brows in perfectly until the areas are perfected.
Q3. What is your number one tip for growing in perfectly shaped eyebrows?
HANDS OFF! The best thing to do is leave your eyebrows alone. A new shape or a fuller brow cannot be achieved unless there is hair growth to work with. We also have an amazing brow enhancing serum to encourage more hair growth in the brow.
Q4. What products would you recommend for maintaining perfectly groomed brows?
I highly recommend a good brow brush such as the Anastasia Mini Duo Brush which has an Angled Brow Powder Applicator on one side, and a Grooming Spooley used to brush your brows on the other. Also, I would recommend a Clear or Tinted Brow Gel to keep hairs in place throughout the day. A Clear or Tinted Brow Gel will also set your brow look so that it stays put all day.
Q5. Finally, how often do you recommend having ones eyebrows done?
Anastasia Beverly Hills recommends that a client should have their brows done every 3 weeks to maintain a perfect shape.
More about Anastasia’s:
“Anastasia Soare is highly regarded as Hollywood’s go-to expert on balance, proportion and natural beauty through her use of innovative ingredients and techniques. Professional makeup artists, beauty editors and the biggest beauty bloggers look to the Anastasia Beverly Hills brand as the authority on brow and eye beauty.”
Anastasia’s methods are available to you within your local Nordstrom store at the Anastasia Brow Studio. Each Brow Studio expert is trained to the highest Anastasia standards of brow excellence and is eager to create the perfect brow arch using the Anastasia method. In the studio you may enjoy perfect brow arching, brow reshaping and sculpting, and facial waxing.
Images: Instagram ~ @anastasiabeverlyhills
Until Then,
~ L.
The Pretty Domestic
Nik’s 12 Days of Cocktails … Days 9, 10 & 11 …
Here we are, Christmas Eve; whatever is not done, probably won’t get done. House decorated, gifts wrapped, table set, meal preparations underway, and warm greetings for out of town family and friends. What’s left, the perfect cocktail to wind down the evening and await Santa!
Nik has given us some more holiday cocktails sure to please the palette. Chin Chin!
Nik’s 12 Days of Cocktails ~ Day 9
Nik’s 12 Days of Cocktails ~ Day 10
Nik’s 12 Days of Cocktails ~ Day 11
Merry Christmas,
~ L.
The Pretty Domestic
Nick’s 12 days of Cocktails … Days 6, 7 & 8 …
Holiday prep, not to mention the “day job,” has this Doll as busy as ever! I am so looking forward a weekend full of festive fun! Just in time for your weekend holiday plans is Nik’s 12 Days of Cocktails ~ Days 6, 7 & 8! Select your fav to serve to your guests, or heck, treat yourself to a “sip!” Chin! Chin!
Nik’s 12 Days of Cocktails 2013 ~ DAY 6!!!
Nik’s 12 Days of Cocktails 2013 ~ DAY 7!!!
Nik’s 12 Days of Cocktails 2013 ~ DAY 8!!!
Until Then,
~ L.
The Pretty Domestic
And the Winner Is …
Good Evening Dolls! I know it’s late, but last there are so many last minute Christmas details to attend to, I just couldn’t get to you before now.
As promised, today was the last day of the Pretty Domestic Stella & Dot Holiday Give-Away; and one special Doll is our winner ~
Mrs. Croxton!
Congratulations Mrs. Croxton! Enjoy your Serenity Stone Cuff and Stone Drops Earrings.
Until Then,
~ L.
The Pretty Domestic
50 Shades of Red … Vol. 2
So here we are, and as promised for the last 30 days I donned Rouge Coco Shine “Dialogue,” with Framboise Precision Lip Definer, and Levres Scintillantes Glossimer 04, all compliments of Chanel. Yep, I never deviated!
Now, for the review. On a scale of 1 to 10, I’d give this trio a 6. Why, you ask? Let me start with the positive, my lips stayed completely moist, which is extremely important given the cold weather.
However, it didn’t seem too last long. Most days I filled in my entire lip with the Framboise Precision Lip Definer, using it as a base and then applied the Rouge Coco Shine “Dialogue” directly over the lip definer. Not so bad, but even with all of that coverage, I found myself reapplying both several times daily.
One day, hoping to glam it up, I followed the same routine, but added the Levres Scintillantes Glossimer 04. Surprisngly, I really liked the look ~ I’m generally not a gloss girl ~ and kept it for the remainder of the 30 days.
Then why the somewhat average score of a 6? I think the real issue is that I could never fully commit to the color ~ just too much pink/magenta undertone. Would I purchase Chanel again? Mais Oui! One can never fully turn one’s back on Madame Chanel; but, would be much more discriminating with my color choice.
So here we are 50 Shades of Red … Vol. 2. This month I going “low.” Over the next 30 days I’ll be rocking L’Oreal Infallible Le Rouge Lipstick in “Target” Red ~ ironically a quick purchase from said Target ~ with a MAC Lip Pencil in Brick.
I think that I am going to like this duo! We’ll see. I’ll be back on January 17th with the “deets.”
Until Then,
~ L.
The Pretty Domestic
Nik’s 12 Days of Cocktails ~ Days 4 & 5
Nik is on the case, and just like clockwork has given us two new yummy recipes for her 12 Days of Cocktails! Here’s to you!
Nik’s 12 Days of Cocktail’s ~ Day 4
Champagne with Candied Kumquats and Cranberries
Nik’s 12 Days of Cocktails ~ Day 5
Until Then,
~ L.
The Pretty Domestic
You Are Cordially Invited to Champagne Sunday …
Christmas is all about the glitz and sparkle. There is nothing better this time of year when sitting back and taking in the beauty of your holiday decorations than a “glass of sparkle.” But don’t think that you have to drink it as is, there are so many options for enjoying your favorite Champagne, Prosecco or Cava. Here’s one with a name that is fitting for the season ~
Christmas in a Glass
Image: Food Network
Ingredients
- 1 bottle Prosecco, or other sparkling dry white wine, well chilled
- 1 bottle gingerbread flavored syrup (or cranberry flavored syrup)
Directions. Pour the Prosecco into glasses. Add a capful of the syrup to each glass of the Prosecco, to taste.
As an extra special treat on Champagne Sunday, our very own clean eating expert, Nicole Nichelson, is sharing with us her annual Nik’s 12 Days of Cocktails. We are a couple days behind, so we will use today to catch up. But for the next 10 days, you can enjoy a festive holiday cocktail with your family or to select one of her swanky libations to serve at your holiday soiree. Click the links to peep the mixology.
Nik’s 12 Days of Cocktails ~ Day 1
Pomegranate Pear Holiday Punch
Nik’s 12 Days of Cocktails ~ Day 2
Nik’s 12 Days of Cocktails ~ Day 3
Leave a comment and let us know which recipes you tried, and which is your favorite. Chin Chin!
PS ~ It’s not too late to enter the Pretty Domestic Stella & Dot Holiday Jewelry Give-Away. The winner will be announced on Wednesday! Bon Chance!
Until Then,
~ L.
The Pretty Domestic
Stella & Dot Holiday Give~Away!!!
I’m so excited today, because I am partnering with Stella & Dot Stylist, Kristin Biggs, to bring to you a 2013 Pretty Domestic Holiday Give~Away!
I met Kristin in Lilly Pulitzer, who was working the swankiest Stella & Dot in-store pop-up shop. So swanky in fact, that I left sans Lilly, but with a couple of jewelry pieces from the line; which really does have some of the most fabulously flirty baubles, and statement pieces.
Now it’s your turn to enjoy Stella & Dot as much as I. So, just in time for the holidays, I am offering one lucky Doll the chance to win this Serenity Stone Cuff and Stone Drops Earrings in gold or silver (your choice)!
Peep the entry “deets” below.
To Enter:
- “Like” Kristin’s Stella & Dot FaceBook Page;
- “Like” the Pretty Domestic FaceBook Page;
- Follow Pretty Domestic on Twitter; and
- Leave a comment below, sharing how you would wear the Stella & Dot Serenity Stone Cuff and Stone Drops Earrings!
For bonus points, subscribe to receive your weekly dose of Pretty Domestic via email!
The lucky Doll will be chosen at random on Friday, December 13th!
PS ~ You’ll also receive your gift in the cutest packaging!
Bon Chance!
~ The Pretty Domestic and Stella & Dot
Straight HAUTE!
It’s the holidays, and if you know like I, it’s hard to get an appointment with your stylist; unless you have a “standing.” What’s a Doll to do when the invitations to holiday soirees are coming fast and furious, and the need to look fabulous is at a 10? Heck, I have four between now and Sunday! The answer, Haute Blow Dry Bar!
Haute Blow Dry Bar is the beauty brainchild of owner, Abi Frederick, and is exactly what it says, a blow dry bar.
Haute opened in my neighborhood mid July. I drove by many times, and was intrigued by the name and the clean, minimalist aesthetic I observed through the window. Chairs at the “bar” were full, and Dolls were leaving, “bouncin’ and behavin.” Well, last week I could no longer resist.
I booked the appointment on my iPad, selecting from a drop down menu of services. Within minutes a confirmation email arrived in my inbox. Love it!
I arrived last Saturday at 9:00 a.m. The greeting from “bar” manager, Mimi, was uber friendly and my stylist was ready. Side bar: Mimi is an absolute ringer for the strikingly beautiful Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. Almost eerily so. Moment of silence, she was one of my style icons.
Anyhoo, I digress. There was no wait time. They offered a Mimosa, consulted with me on how I want my hair styled, and 45 minutes later it was perfectly smooth, with just the right amount of curl. No pulling from the dryer and not too much heat from the flat iron. I knew I’d be back.
As I settled my bill, Mimi invited me back on Tuesday for an event they were hosting with Chanel and Lancôme. I made another appointment for three days later. This would be my test … Would I still love HBDB? Would I be as pleased the second time around?
Again, a warm greeting from Mimi, straight back to the shampoo bowl, “Would you like a glass of champagne, red or white wine, how about a slice of pizza?” Another consult, side or middle part … loose curls? The Chanel and Lancôme artists were giving makeup tips, a little Beyoncé in the background and 45 minutes later, again, I was completely satisfied.
Following my blow dry and flat iron, Patrice from Chanel gave me a fab sultry holiday smokey eye and prior to leaving I was gifted with a little bag of treats from Chanel and Lancôme.
As you can see Dolls, I am sold, but must manage your expectations so that I won’t nasty grams from you. Haute Blow Dry Bar is just that, a blow dry bar. You are not going there for treatments, trims and color. But, you will be perfectly coiffed and “out the door” in no time! It’s definitely my new “go-to” for a “HAUTE,” smooth and sleek or flirty and easy-breezy style. BTW, the “bar” has purse hooks. No need to worry about where to put you tote! I love a purse hook!
For Dolls without a Haute Blow Dry Bar in your city, try Dry Bar, with locations in Arizona, California, D.C., Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, and Texas.
Until Then,
~ L.
The Pretty Domestic
The Pretty Domestic | Life with Elle 