The Resurrection of Chasing Beauty

Instagram Mini Moments from the past six months.

I bet, you thought you'd never hear from me again. That possibly, I dropped off the planet, and completely abandoned this blog?  Well, it has been a while, but Chasing Beauty has never been far from my mind. Although I haven't been active here, I've still been interacting with all of my bloggy friends. You see,  a little app called Instagram has completely reignited my love for blogging, and reminded me of the community that I had been missing!   For the past few months now, I've been quietly plotting my return, and a total reboot of Chasing Beauty! Version 2.0 isn't quite ready yet, and probably won't be until Summer, but I wanted to let you all know that it's coming!  I also wanted to keep you posted on where you find me in the meantime. 

Recently, I teamed up with Jamie (of glamlatte.com) and Mel (of modanistajunkie.com), otherwise known as The Wear To Go Girls. In case you are just hearing about WTGG for the first time, Jamie and Mel have created a really fun website, to find out where to go shop, eat, drink, get pampered, socialize and what to wear to go! They are featuring weekly hair and makeup "how to's," and guess who's doing the makeup tutorials? 

ME!!! 

Check out my Individual false lash tutorial HERE, and keep checking back for more hair and makeup tips!

You can also follow me on:

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Instagram: on the actual app my user is @chasingbeauty

I'll be posting here too, just not as frequently as I had before, but stay tuned. There's exciting things to come!

xoxo,

Bren

A Quiet { One }

 

Sometimes silence is golden, and sometimes it's just silent, but in my case it was exactly what I needed. I can't believe that it's been over a month since I've posted anything!  I apologize for abandoning you all, but I desperately needed a break! My own survival depended on it! I've been running, running, running all year long and I guess I had just run out of steam. The first week or two I was in recovery mode, and then the next two I was all wrapped up in my holiday to-do list (which seems to get longer every year!), meanwhile maintaining my work schedule. (not complaining, just explaining) Unfortunately, my break happened right before Christmas, when there's so much inspiration around for blog posts! But, I'm sure you've all had plenty of blogs to read/write that kept you in the Christmas spirit. Hopefully, you all had a great holiday! Mine was an amazing time spent with the people that I love, and some much needed R & R. It was perfect! Now that Christmas is behind us, and we've welcomed in another new year, it's time the silence was broken. I suppose it's appropriate to  get back to  blogging, on  Chasing Beauty's one year blogiversary! Typically for blog anniversaries, there's some sort of giveaway, or even a whole week long celebration. I've even been known to celebrate each month, like a high school relationship! Since I'm just coming back, I've decided to forgo the usual fanfare,  for a small, quiet celebration. For me, it's an accomplishment that this post actually happened! It would've been all too easy to continue in my silence, but the truth is, I'm still passionate about blogging! My only problem now, is that I have much less time to blog than when I began. I'm still trying to sort out a posting schedule that is both realistic and consistent, with consistent being the key word! It's always difficult getting started after a long break, so bear with me as I get back into the swing of things. For those of you that are still reading, and haven't given up on this little blog (and me), THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart!  You're the reason I've decided to continue, and I'm SO looking forward to catching up with all of you!

xoxo,

Bren

P.S. I'll be back to Twitter-ing soon too! :)

Back from Birthday Break

 

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The past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind, and I've been having the time of my life! I didn't really expect to take a break from the blog, but with SO much going on, it was the one thing that had to give. I'm on my way out the door right now to go paint some face, but I'll be back tomorrow and fill you all in. I can't wait to share with you all of the goodness that's been happening, and I'm SO looking forward to catching up on all of YOUR blogs! 

xoxo,

Bren

Ten Month Anniversary

Chasing Beauty is Ten Months old today!

I almost forgot that today was my ten month blogiversary! I know I'm suppose to be in NY on a work trip, but I'm seriously having the most amazing time! I can't think of any city I'd rather be in right now to celebrate this little milestone, and kick off my birthday month! 

Packing for NYC is never easy for me. I always want to take tons of outfits, with plenty of accessorizing options, and then I end up wearing the same four things everyday. It's ridiculous! So this trip, I decided to be honest with myself and just bring essentials. I'm proud to say that I brought everything I needed for a week, including makeup supplies for my client, in one carry on suitcase! (Well, one carry-on suitcase and an additional large tote bag) 

 

With the addition of two pairs of boots (one of which I wore on the plane), a trench coat (also worn on the plane), and a leather jacket, I managed to pack perfectly for once! The only thing I didn't need to bring, but couldn't possibly leave at home, were my new Miu Miu's! I know I had talked about them  being  in the running for the big b-day purchase, but I've decided to hunt down those Louboutin's. 

Let's call the Miu Miu's my Ten Month blogiversary shoes! ;)  (Anyway I can justify two extravagant shoe purchases!)

xoxo,

Bren 

Nine Month Anniversary

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Chasing Beauty is Nine Months old today!

How is it October 4th already?!  I've had SO much going on these past few months, that I totally missed my eight month blogiversary! I couldn't let nine go by without some sort of acknowledgment. :) Although, I didn't get the chance to blog much last month, I'm still here and haven't given up.  

When I first started this blog, my work schedule was in a slow period, and I was looking for something to pour my creative energy into. One where I could talk about all of the things I love, and maybe other people would love them too. What I didn't expect, were all of the new friends I'd meet through the blog! Some of you I've only talked to through comments, and a few I've chatted with via Twitter. (it's almost like texting your blog friends! Which is why I love Twitter!) What's even more fun is when virtual friendships turn into real ones! What a better way to celebrate my Nine Month anniversay, than to have a bloggy date with a couple of my favorite bloggers/turned real life friends! On Saturday, I met up with Jamie of Glam Latte, and Valerie of Red Vines for Breakfast for some good girl chat, and the most incredible Nutella Martini's! 

 Jamie, Valerie, and Me :) I clearly missed the white shirt memo.

Here we are with our "real" drinks. We had a very interesting waitress (code for bad service), who brought these out first.

Now don't get me wrong, this drink was AMAZING, but it was a coffee drink and not really what we were after. We were looking for something a little more celebratory, with a little kick. ;) About a half an hour later (I actually started timing her at one point), our martinis finally arrived.

 Ahhhh....now that's a drink! What could be better than a Nutella coated martini glass filled with the yummiest cocktail?! 

 Jamie and I with the wrong, but still yummy coffee drinks.

If you're a Nutella lover like Jamie, Valerie and I, you must check out Ugo the next time you venture to Culver City! We had such a great time, that we're already planning our next night out! If you're an LA blogger and would like to join us next time, let me know! I'd love to meet more of you in person!

xoxo,

Bren

**Special thanks to Valerie for taking the photos! xoxo

To Hell and Back

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You'd think this was hell! Today was the hottest day EVER in LA, topping out at 113 degrees!!! While everyone else in the country is beginning to dress in layers, we're still in flip flops and sun dresses, making regular stops for ice cream. I'm over it, and hoping that this is the usual "one last heat wave" before the air turns cool. I'm ready for sweata-weatha. ;)

In case you hadn't noticed, I'm back from my Palm Springs mini break. :)  I hadn't planned on taking a week off from the blog, but it's taken me a little longer to get my act together. For those still following along, regular blog posts will start up tomorrow. I can't wait to catch up with all of you!

xoxo,

Bren

Getting Back on the Horse

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The blogging horse that is.

I had the rare opportunity last week, to start the holiday weekend a little early, and extend it past Monday. (ok, way past) I hadn't planned on unplugging totally, but it was exactly what I needed. I didn't take a fancy vacation, or do anything in particular, but I did get a chance to reconnect to my life. I was in desperate need of decompressing, just so that I could find joy and inspiration again.  Trust me, you wouldn't have wanted to read my blog last week. So, I took some extra time to myself just to LIVE. I've had zero schedule for the past seven days, and it's been such a welcome change of pace for me. So much so, that I've been struggling with getting back to normal life, and well, blogging. 

But, the time has come to get down to business, and I feel ready. More importantly, I feel inspired! 

xoxo,

Bren

P.S. Bear with me as I catch up on all of your amazing blogs. I'm sure I've got a lot of reading to do. ;)

Seven Month Anniversary

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Chasing Beauty is Seven Months old today!

I can't believe that this year is half over!  It seems like things are moving pretty fast, especially over the past couple of months! Since my work schedule picked up, I've definitely struggled to stay on top of the blog, but I feel like I'm getting back into a rhythm. My posts don't always go up when I want them to, but I'm ok with that. I'm also cutting myself some slack. There's only so many days/hours a week, and when you spend most of them working there's not a lot left over for anything else. Yesterday was a perfect example of that. Lately, my time off has been all about laundry,  family weddings, and blog catch up. Sometimes, I just need a break from the computer to go out and have a little fun, or buy a new bag! :D (more on that tomorrow) I'm still trying to figure out a routine for myself, but my schedule fluctuates. Just when I think I've got it down, it changes! The life of a freelancer. :)

I did learn so much from all of you, when I did my informal "bloggy questionaire." I don't know about you, but I loved that post! It made me realize how much we all put into our blogs, and I appreciate you all SO much more because of it. So, thank you, thank you, thank you... for all of your hard work and dedication to your own blogs, and thank you for supporting mine! You amazing people keep me going! xoxo

I'm sure you're all wondering by now, who the winner is of the In-vita Paper Studio giveaway. When all of the entries were in, I numbered everyone's name on piece of paper...

Then I used the random number generator...

Dim the Lights! Drum roll, please...

The winner is:

Congratulations Shawna of Poppies and Sunshine! I'll be contacting you soon, to get these adorable, bubble print note cards to you.

Playing Hooky

I sat down to read a few posts, and write my own for the day, and I kept staring out my sunny window. This weather is just too GORGEOUS, I can't take it! So, I'm heading out to enjoy the sun before it decides to revert back to "June gloom" again! But before I go, I just want to remind you all that today is the last day to enter my In-vita Paper Studio giveaway! You have until 11:59 pm PST, so comment away! I'll announce the winner tomorrow.  Good Luck!

 

Songs of the Day: Phoenix - Lisztomania & 1901

Yesterday I was in Urban Outfitters, and they were playing one of my favorite bands of the moment, Phoenix.  Most days, you will find me blasting them in my headphones while blogging. Since today I plan on catching up on my blog reading, I thought I'd share a couple of my favorite songs with you. Granted, the entire "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix" album is amazing, so if you're just hearing about them for the first time, you should definitely check out some of their other songs. Phoenix is also a fantastic Pandora station! Be sure to add them. :)

Happy Monday, and don't forget to enter my In-vita Paper Studio giveaway!

How Do You Blog?

My schedule for today got rearranged, so I haven't had time to put together the Renegade- Part 2 post. Look for that one tomorrow. Instead, I want your feedback.

The other day, Stephanie of Maybe Someday We'll Be Smarter, tweeted that she had spent 4 hours writing her blog post for the day. I could totally relate, as it often times takes me 2-4 hrs creating some of mine. When I add it up, I spend roughly 15-20 hrs. per week on Chasing Beauty. So, I started wondering...are Stephanie and I the only ones who spend this much time blogging? I'm curious about how you all blog, so I'd like to conduct a little questionaire. Nothing scientific here, I'm just being nosey. :)

• How long does it take you to put together a typical post? 
• How much time per week would you say that you blog?
• How many days a week do you post?
• Do you write your posts ahead of time? If so, how many do you like to have drafted, ready to go?

Also, are you on Twitter?

I have so much fun chatting it up with all of my bloggy friends, and would love to see more of you in my "time line." Please add your Twitter addy in the comments, so I can "follow" you. And if you're not Tweeting yet...what are you waiting for?

xoxo,

Bren

I Had Good Intentions

I really did.

I was all set up at my favorite little cafe, with free WiFi, and the yummiest vanilla latte ever. I was ready to start blogging away, when all of a sudden, I accidentally clicked on Nordstrom's website! (ok, maybe not such an accident) ;)  I was quickly reminded of this:

Sorry people.  A sale is a sale, and it's calling my name! What would you do??

I've already been once, and didn't buy anything.  (The horror!) However, this Rebecca Minkoff clutch caught my eye, and it's haunting me. I think I just might purchase if they have any left. The question is...which color?

Rebecca Minkoff 'Mac' Croc Embossed Clutch $219

I like them all, but not sure what I'll use the most.  I love the gold hardware against the black, but this is the safe choice, and maybe a little boring? The dark grey is a nice alternative, and the brown looks so rich! The fuchsia is just a fun pop of color, which I might need. I have black bags, and lots of brown, but zero gray, and almost no color.  

Which one should I get?

Pour Some Sugar On Me

Lately, I've been getting some "sugar" in the blogosphere, and I couldn't wait to share it with you all! The other day I happened to click on Nesting Newbies press page, and lo and behold, who was listed in their link list??? Umm...that would be ME!!! I couldn't be more excited to be included in their impressive list of blogs! If you have yet to experience the amazingness, Nesting Newbies is a cross platform experience featuring a quarterly digital shelter magazine, online cooking segments, and informational blogs aimed at showing those who are new to nesting how to cook, entertain, and decorate. Everything in the magazine is linked and clickable, making shopping for the items you're lusting over, a breeze! Pay them a visit and see what I'm talking about. You'll wish that every magazine was in this format!

 Aside from the Nesting Newbies feature, I've also been given some fun blog awards. 

Katie of Fashion's Maven gave me the I Heart Your Blog award.

Thank you so much Katie! You know how much I heart your blog right back!

I'm passing this award along to some very talented bloggers:

Stephanie of Maybe Someday We'll Be Smarter..

Amanda of A.Co. est. 1984

Vivian of Diamonds and Tulle

Marcie of Lemons and Laundry

Shawna of Poppies and Sunshine

Jammer of Jammer at 10am

And, Shawna of Poppies and Sunshine gave me the Sugar Doll award.

I think this award perfectly describes you Shawna! Thank you so much!

With this award, the rules are to share 10 things about yourself, so let's get to it:

1. I'm a total night owl. It's not unusual for me to be up til 3am, which can be a problem if you need to wake up at 4am. 

2. I love the Fall! I love the cooler weather, dressing in layers, and the return of the PSL. (Pumkin Spice Latte)

3. I'm obsessed with my cat's heart shaped nose. (please excuse her messy face)

4. I don't mind going to a restaurant, a movie, or even traveling, solo. I'd much rather do things by myself, than miss out because I don't have someone to go with. I also find that I'm open to meeting new people when I'm alone.

5. I think the Bachelor/Bachelorette is SO beyond ridiculous, and yet I watch every episode. I don't know how I get sucked into the madness, but they've got me...hook, line, and sinker, everytime!

6. I can't wait for Bachelor Pad to start! (August 9th)

7. I love Jelly Belly's, but I don't like buying the assorted pack. I only buy them from a candy store where I can pick out the flavors I like. (green apple, very cherry, peach, pear, pineapple, red apple, grapefruit, and tangerine) I don't buy them often, because once I start, I can't stop. I literally make myself sick, like a 5 year old.

8. I'm obsessed with bed linens. Duvet covers, pillow shams, and sheets galore! I like keeping my  bedroom pretty neutral, so I can change the look with different bedding. I've got a collection of duvet covers in all sorts of colors to keep things fresh. Oddly enough, I'm not using any of them at the moment. My down comforter is naked.

9. I'm dying for a pair of sparrow Miu Miu's, but sadly they're nowhere to be found.

10. Which is fine, because I live my life in Havaiana's.

I'm passing the Sugar Doll award on to some amazing girls:

Katie of Fashion's Maven

Jamie of Glam Latte

Valerie of Red Vines for Breakfast

Josie of With a Wink and a Smile

Alicia of Cheetah is the New Black

Carrie of This Free Bird

Inspiration: Caroline Blomst

Like many of my favorite fashion bloggers, Caroline Blomst has made style her occupation. She works as the fashion editor of the Swedish website Feber.se, and runs the blog StockholmStreetStyle. She also maintains her own style blog, CarolinesMode, where she posts her fashion inspiration, her own "Wearing Today" pics,  and newly acquired shopping conquests. In addition to blogging, Caroline regularly posts images of her outfits to Chictopia and Lookbook.nu.

It's hard to ignore how pretty Caroline is. She looks like a model straight off of the runway, with barely there makeup, and tousled wavy hair.  Caroline's style is simple, and casual, yet she knows how to make a statement with anything from a pink Balenciaga motorcycle bag to a pair of studded Chuck Taylor's. Her accessories closet alone, would make any fashionista green with envy, myself included. But with Caroline, it's not just about high end designer pieces. She typically pairs items from stores like H&M, Zara, and Asos, with luxury brand bags and shoes. Her innate talent for mixing pieces and setting trends is evident throughout her blog.

When giving out style advice, she says it's best not to read too many fashion blogs, or you'll risk losing your sense of yourself.  In this day and age of global fashion via the internet,  I think she's got a point.  While influenced by some of the season's best designs, Caroline's style is undeniably her own. Below are some of my favorite Summer outfits that she's posted recently:

 

All images via CarolinesMode

Six Month Anniversary

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Chasing Beauty is Six Months old today!

I hope you all had an amazing 4th! Yesterday was my first day off, in... I don't know how long, and all I wanted to do was stay in bed and watch movies. But it was the 4th of July,  and I had to do something! As much as I needed to rest, I went to my friend's BBQ, which was a nice, small-ish affair of about 10 people. It was perfect! Super lo-key and just the type of party I needed if I was going to be socializing at all. We did the typical pigging out that one does on the 4th, with plenty of dessert to follow. It didn't take much to put me into a food coma, but by the time fireworks started, I was ready to sleep! I was able to catch a good portion of the Rose Bowl fireworks,  (which were gorgeous) before heading home early to beat the traffic. I couldn't wait to climb into bed, but more importantly, was really looking forward to today and not having to be anywhere! Ahhhhhh! I've been dreaming of this! :)

It wasn't until this morning when I realized, that my very neglected blog turned six months old yesterday! Wow...this year sure is going by fast! I wish it would slow down! Part of why this year seems like such a blur, is because I've been so busy! Too busy.  I've decided that I need to start saying NO more often, and taking better care of myself. This isn't always possible, but I can definitely improve in this area. Even just to carve out a little more downtime to recharge my batteries. It's hard to feel inspired and creative when you're running on fumes. I'd love to have more time to devote to the blog, and to get in more blog reading! I feel like I've been missing so much! Aside from blogging, it's Summertime, and I'm craving warm weather activities like:  a day at the pool with a good book, a beach party complete with bonfire and s'mores, margaritas with girlfriends on a balmy Summer night, and a picnic under the stars at the Hollywood Bowl, just to name a few. I'd really like to check some of these off the list, by the time Fall rolls around!

Hopefully this month will bring a balance to my work, life, and blog. I desperately need it! Thank you all so much for sticking with me, while I navigate this uncharted territory. Your comments and words of encouragement keep me going!

xoxo,

Bren

My "So Called" Crazy Life

Hi! Remember me? I'm that makeup artist and sometimes blogger that suddenly fell off of the face of the Earth. :) I wish I could see a break in sight, but sadly, I'm intensely booked through July 17th! Granted, this is not a bad problem to have, it just leaves little time for blogging. Actually, my choice of late has been sleep vs. blog. You've obviously seen which has been winning out, and I'm barely getting 4-5 hrs a night at that! So, if I all of a sudden I go missing again...you know what's happening.

My last post I was debating whether or not to get the black or white iPhone. I got the black since it's the only one available. (apparently there's a problem with production of the white) Look for a full review of the iPhone 4 coming very soon. 

This past weekend was eventful to say the least! Saturday I watched my little cousin get married, and what a beautiful bride she was! 

Here she is with her new husband, Jethro.

And Heather and I.

Immediately following the wedding, I spent the night in the ER with my Dad, because he was having complications from a recent eye surgery. He's fine now, but getting home from the wedding at 5:30 am was pretty brutal, and the topper...I had to be at work by 9 am! Sunday was hard, as I had no sleep and zero downtime to prepare for the upcoming week. Then, Monday morning came and I got the call that I've been waiting for...my sister-in-law went into labor! I had a full day scheduled, but was able to clear my afternoon to await the arrival of my niece. After three boys, my brother and sis-in-law finally did it!  A baby girl! I'm so excited that now I'll get to shop all of the isles at Toys-R-Us! lol!

Introducing my new niece Anne Charlotte...

and me, holding sweet little Annie. 

(the picture is blurry because my brother is a horrible photographer! lol! I normally take the pictures in the family, and this is why)

So, now you know what I've been up to. I'm looking forward to catching up with you, and reading all of your fabulous blogs! And then I'm looking forward to a day at the pool, doing absolutely nothing. :)

xoxo,

Bren

Tag...You're It!

I'm feeling SO much better! Thank you all so much for the well wishes!  Seriously, the BEST readers EVER!<3

Recently, I was tagged by the lovely Stephanie of Maybe Someday We'll be Smarter, for a little Q & A. She's asked me some fun questions, so let's get to it.

1. What's your hidden talent?

Gift Wrapping

I'm an excellent gift wrapper! I love wrapping presents, and would much rather use pretty paper and fancy ribbon over gift bags any day! I would love to have the space to create a designated wrapping area in my house.

2. What would your last meal be?

 Thanksgiving Dinner

By far, my favorite meal of the year is Thanksgiving. I look forward to it all year long, and have been known to hound my Mom to repeat the meal at Christmas. 

3. Favorite teacher?

 Celebrity makeup artist, Joanna Schlip

Without Joanna, I would not have a career as a makeup artist, period. She has taught me so much, not just about makeup, but about navigating my way through the entertainment biz.  She's been an amazing teacher,  mentor,  and an even more amazing friend.

4. Least favorite chore to do?

  Dishes

I could honestly say that I loathe most household chores, but dishes take the cake! I especially can't stand it when dishes have sat for any period of time. Gross!

5. Cupcakes or Macaroons?

 Cupcakes

Ever since my pink Kitchen Aid mixer came into my life, I've turned into quite the cupcake maker. Some of my favorites to make are: Strawberry, Lemon-Poppy Seed, Key-Lime, Pumpkin, Chocolate-Hazelnut (Nutella), and Dark Chocolate-Peppermint (for Christmas).

6. One Summer movie that you have to watch?

 Eclipse

I've been waiting for this since the opening day of New Moon! Can't wait!!!

7. What are you currently reading?

 Blogs

I'm hoping that I'll have some time for Summer reading by the pool, but for now I  barely have time to catch up on my daily reads.

8. Who's your doppelganger?

 Reese Witherspoon

I don't really get it when people say that I look like Reese, especially since she's so notoriously blonde, and I'm not. So, I had to find a picture of her when she went brunette for "Walk the Line." This is the only way I can kind of see it.

I'm tagging:

• Alicia of Cheetah Is The New Black
• Katie of Fashion's Maven
• Jamie of Glam Latte
• Jennifer of I know, right?
• Valerie of Red Vines for Breakfast
• Josie of With a Wink and a Smile
• Marcie of Lemons and Laundry
• Jammer of Jammer at 10 A.M.

My Questions:

1. Favorite designer?
2. What's your dream bag?
3. What's your favorite ice cream flavor?
4. Lip gloss or lip stick?
5. If you could go anywhere for a week long vacation, where would you go?
6. Who is your celebrity crush?
7. What's your "can't miss" TV show?
8. Who's your style icon?