Thursday, June 30, 2011

High Maintenance Woman

I would not usually classify myself as a high maintenance woman (at least not in the beauty department.) But lately, all of that has changed. Each year that I get older, I have to try harder to look cute.

A few weeks ago, I saw my hairdresser Holly at the gym. She had the most gorgeous eyelashes. Turns out she had eyelash extensions. I was all over it, not so much because I wanted longer lashes, but because I have always dreamed of dark lashes. I went in and voila--no more mascara for me!



I honestly love them so much, I may have to keep them forever. Did I mention I've quit wearing make-up since I got them...I guess that negates some of the high maintenance right? I also got my eyebrows tinted which also helps me not look like an albino.

A while back, I bought a shellac mani-pedi on Groupon and decided to go use it since I have a family picture and vacation coming up. Look at my pretty nails wrapped around a DC:



Shellac baby! I love it. It's your own nails so you can still do everything but they are super hard and don't chip. Honestly, Shellac, where have you been all my life?

This is in addition to getting my hair done and I'm going in for a spray tan tomorrow for all of the upcoming festivities. Seriously. I can't even keep track of all my appointments. But it is because I have no natural beauty. I shudder at the thought of me as a pioneer. I would have never married.

Now it's your turn. What is your latest high maintenance thing you do in the name of beauty?

ps. Hapari is having a Fourth of July sale where everything is 40% off if you use the coupon code sale40. If you have been thinking about getting a suit from them, now is the time!

20 comments:

Em said...

You are gorgeous! I love those lashes! I want them! Did it hurt to get them? I have the dark lashes, but they are short and stick straight.

I also love your freckles. They are beautiful. I mean that.

My latest high maintenance thing is to go get a mani-pedi pretty regularly. That, and I also now pay GOOD money for quality mascara.

I think about the pioneer thing often. I'd be doubly out of luck because I'm a Latina. Just keepin' it real--you know it's true! God knew what He was doing when he sent me here to the U.S., at this time, with the Gospel...and Smashbox smokey eye shadow kits.

And can I just say that I finally bought a Hapari suit--like, a week before their big sale?!?!?!?!

The Mostess said...

Dude--I just spray tanned and got the Keratin straightening on my hair for NKOTB. My friend is coming over tomorrow morning to do my makeup. I'm with you.

Elizabeth said...

Shellac is the bomb! (costs a bomb in Oz too!)
I have a long list of maintenance "things" I need to do to even look half cute... and I'm old so nothing really helps.
Waxing, Eyebrow tint, Shellacing, black head extraction facial (you asked), and as we have just gone into the coldest month of winter - spray tan. But want I really really want is hair extensions just to have thicker hair.

Wow I am shallow.

Christie said...

I seriously think the eyelashes need a post of their own. I want deets, girl! How, where, how much, how? I, too, would like to say goodbye to mascara.

You are way cute. Your freckles make me think I should love my own.

And I laughed out loud at your pioneer comment. Are you sure we're not sisters? :-)

melissa walker said...

I've always felt I would be out of luck with the pioneers too--short, blonde eyelashes and blonde eyebrows without the "real" blonde hair. Or even in my beloved Jane Austen novels--I'd be the best friend who has to settle showing the heroine what she doesn't want in her own love life!
But-I love the new lashes and brows--you look fabulous!

Jack's Mama said...

I bought a month of morning boot camp from groupon, I know you think boot camp is crazy but the instructor is totally sweet and motivating. Then i bought my first tanning package since college, i drive straight to the tanning salon after bootcamp (not everyday), where my month package just ended. It was nice i do look a little too tan but now I'll be done for the rest of the summer. And I don't know if i'll ever buy a month package again i decided i would never go if i had to find a sitter to go (husband works crazy hours). I also bought this teeth whitening stuff that you use in the tanning bed, it worked ok, but i forget to use it half the time, now I have half a tube left-oops!
I worked out and tanned even before my husband and baby woke up, i felt productive!
I've never tried spray tan! I had just bought some really cute white clothes for summer and I was scared of ruining them.
Back to teeth whitening, any suggestions anyone?
I'm still young :) but what should i do to prevent aging, any magical cream? And um duh why I don't think i'll ever buy a tanning package again. Great post!

Heather said...

I have good teeth...never needed braces. That is my one claim to natural beauty. I need to have everything done...but I resist being high-maintenance. However, I would kill for those eyelashes, so I might just do it...

Jen and her men said...

My friend/neighbor does shellac nails for people for $10 or something. I'm thinking about it... and I saw the hapari sale. If only I didn't have six of their suits already {sigh}.... Love the eyelashes...tempting...

Linde said...

Love the nails. I have heard of it, but have never known anyone who did it.

Stephanie Eldredge said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Stephanie Eldredge said...

You look beautiful, but you always do to me!

Jaime said...

Right there with ya girl! I've been getting eyelash extensions for almost 8 weeks and I am a believer - love 'em! Thanks for the hapari reminder. I want to get one.

alexandra said...

This post made me like you even more, and I already liked you way more than I should for someone who has never met you. What great tips! I have found myself trying harder each year because I realized it is only getting worse and I never really took advantage of youth. Your lashes look awesome and not fake. Though this sentence was my favorite in the whole post, I have to disagree: you would have married as a pioneer. You are adorable. And a survivor. What man wouldn't want all that, and the ability to kill someone with your bare hands if you needed to, to boot?

sheryl said...

The eye lash extensions look great... I looked into it but did not want the upkeep. 1/2 my office has them...just be sure to keep them natural. I hate the broadway clowns that some of the girls are doing. They hardly look like they can keep their eyes open. I am sure when they look in the mirror they look great but I am tall and see them from above...dust mops! I have seen plenty that look great though. I just need the time to go zap all the veins in my face! (first) then... My age is showing. If I were totally free, I would have an eyelid lift,(this will be my graduation gift to myself) a tummy tuck and boob shrink to put the sisters in place wold be sweet, but then I need lyposuction to counter that, leg veins zapped (I went but they said no sun for 6 weeks, so ...next winter) And... something for my hair...first a cut, color (I am way over due! then...extensions would be nice if my hair weren't so fine...I need something though. ahhh the list could be endless. Just enjoy your beauty now because you really are Beautiful! Ask Sam. :)

Terri said...

I have tried to find someone that does Shellac nails - who did yours or did you do them yourself??

Eyelashes look fab. You always were a beauty and haven't changed.
I think we are all our worst critics.

brooke said...

Terri,
I got the shellac done at the Nail Port where the old gravel pit used to be. Good luck!

didisaythatoutloud-tami.blogspot.com said...

Brooke, this is Tami Carlson, Nikole's mom. Where did you get them?

Laura B. said...

i am also IN LOVE with the shellac nails. Except I must be crazy hard on my hands because they only lasted 10 days and I peeled them off.
LOVE LOVE LOVE the eyelashes. So fabulous!

brooke said...

Hi Tami,

If you are talking about the nails, see my earlier comment. But I assume you are talking about the eyelashes....best thing I have ever done. I get them done by a girl named Jenny. She does them in her home. That is why she is so affordable. They are 65 bucks to get them on and 35 for a fill every 4 weeks. Email me at brookeharkness at msn.com if you want her number. Salons charge anywhere from 120 to 200 bucks for them so she is a good deal!

Kelli said...

just take it easy on the eye lashes. The ladies in my fashion district (ward) all have them. And most of them look like they can barely keep their eyes open. Very heavy eyelids. I think it looks weird.