Birthday Bash Bragging Rights

     As an newly official member of the club of 22-year-old blonde ladies, I claim to the bragging rights of my birthday, it's festivities, gifts I received, and all events that took place there in.
     That being said and done, I had an awesome birthday!! I got the day off of work, I slept in, and my mom brought me baked oatmeal with home-grown raspberries in it for breakfast! How awesome is that?? Yummy. :) For most of the day, I just lounged around, chilled in bed, watched some cool videos, worked on my channel a little bit, but unfortunately, the event of my birthday does not cancel summer classes...so, I studied a bit, grabbed my books, and went to class.

     Class wasn't actually too bad, we watched movie trailers for a good part of it, haha. We watched an I Love Lucy clip, and then finished of class with a documentary of Johnny Carson, we even got out early! I loved my Communications class, my teacher is awesome. :)
     Though it had cooled down a little outside, it looked like rain, that's because it was...no! Not on my birthday! I had to walk home! I didn't want to go out to dinner looking like a dripping rag! In somewhat of a panic, I called someone dear to my heart, that was coming to dinner with me, and they speedily came to my rescue. Thank heavens, because just as soon as I had shut the car door it truly started raining. From there, it was onward to Spicy Thai!

     It is not weird being the first ones at your own dinner? I mean, when you're not the one hosting? "Yay, thanks for taking me out to dinner!...no one is here yet...", is that weird? So, not being the name on the dinner reservation, we waited in the car for the others to show up. Even after they did show up, I was surprised how long it took us to actually walk INTO the restaurant. Was I the only one that was hungry? But it was cool, because my mom pointed out and found a duck's nest under a little bush near the restaurant. It was actually really neat. Snapped a few pictures, and we finally went inside.
    Once we got into our seats and opened our menus, my eyes immediately darted for the curries. I LOVE Thai curry, especially green curry. So, naturally, that's what I ordered. Think I need to branch out a little?...Nah. I forget how much I really love Thai food. It's so good, and I love the spice, but my mouth can't take too much at once, but I kept eating too fast! My mouth was on fire! I glanced over at my significant other's plate, and I was even eating faster than them!! No way! As much as I love Thai food, I couldn't finish all of my curry, so I got a take-home bowl.

     At this point, I had to say goodbye to my dear sweetheart, being loaded with the burdens of a tough math course, they had a lot to get working on the was due the next day! Still, I thank him for the lovely flowers he sent me, and the lovely handwritten card. Mostly, thank for coming to dinner. :)

     Next of the agenda, I went back to my family's home, it's nice only living about 10 minutes away, and it was time for presents! The awesome part about it? Both me, and my sister got mostly makeup for our birthday. Haha. I got my little sample gift from Sephora, Urban Decay primer potion, zebra-print note cards, birthday money from the grandparents (at this point, they don't know what to get their 22-year-old grandkids, haha) and an amazing eyeshadow palette from Sephora! Complete with eyeshadow base, eyeliners, a brown eyeliner pencil, and a double-ended brush for eyeshadow and eyeliner. I'm having so much fun with it! :)
     After I got home, I changed into my pajamas, and had nearly gone the entire day with no one singing Happy Birthday to me, then a friend in my ward stopped by. Chatted about this and that, invited me to come along for slurpees, and then..."Happy Birthday to you..." ugh... Why is it so embarrassing to be stuck in the spotlight being serenaded with that song?? Oh well...all in all it was a great day.

As another piece to my rights of bragging, I feel like showing you my spoils, and what I purchased with my spoils (yes, I already found good use for the birthday money). Check out the video below. Enjoy!



New tutorial coming soon, thank you for joining me here in the limelight. :)

Love,
   Jessica Ashley

   

Stars and Stripes and Cateyes!

     It's that time of year again. Yes, the wonderful anniversary of our beloved country of the United States of America. Time to fly our colors high, for anthems, music, and to dawn the colors of our nation all over. That includes ourselves!

     I thought I might try something I've never done before. I usually only sport blue on my face, being my favorite color, but this year why not all three? On top of that, why not pair it with a glamourous cateye? Yes, yes, sounds like a party to me. :) What makes a celebratory party look even better? Glitter! Whenever you feel that your look, whether clothes or cosmetics, needs a little more spice, add some glitter! When in doubt, add glitter, that's what I say. It's the perfect kind of sparkle to show others your ready to have some fun!


     So get out there, be brave, and show some patriotic spirit! I know you have it in you. You won't gain that confidence until you've done the scary part first. Try something new! Who knows? You might actually love it! :)

Happy Independence Day! Talk to you all soon!

Loves,
   Jessica Ashley

Splash! Blues and Greens, and Mermaids!

     I finally did it! I completed my Mermaid Eyes tutorial, and it is now readily available for you to view on my channel on YouTube.

     This is what happens when you go to the beach, you get inspired by all the beautiful things you see! Including the colors, which I of course have to find a way to transfer onto my face in almost, if not completely, the same way. So, what do I do? I take a color that brings make the memories of the wonderful days at the beach, and I play with it. Just see where it goes from there.
     Well, I started with green, which is in the same boat as blue, and that just left me feeling like a mermaid!


So enjoy! Be brave, be free, and have FUN!

Loves,
    Jessica Ashley

Maleficent: Fairy Gone Bad...Oh Yes.

     Maleficent. Evil, cruel, and beautiful. Sounds like an unfair combination, doesn't it? I mean, really. If one is going to be so dedicated to the destruction of people's happiness, seemingly for the sole reason that they did not receive an invitation to the presentation of the baby princess, especially so, they've obviously got problems. Including horrible features when it comes to vanity, right? Not so much the case here, my friend.

 Look at her, even the Disney animation version of her is frighteningly striking.

     Though her voice is a bit non-charming, unless you know better, her beauty is definitely a mirage masking her evil character. Yet despite all that you still find yourself silently wishing that you could transform yourself into her. At least for a day. Well, maybe minus the green skin. That, my dears friends, is simply cliche. Not needed really, or at all. Since when did the color green begin to symbolize evil and viciousness? Last time I check it meant growth, and beauty. Then again, she is beautiful. There you go, she might be an exception to the stigma. Green and evil, but beautiful.

     Check out Angelina Jolie for this 2014's Maleficent, she's not green at all. The only green you see in her is in her eyes, or her makeup. Perfect.

Guess this goes to show you can be beautiful and evil with or without green skin.

     Many of you may be wondering how to do your own transformation at home. Unfortunately, I can't promise how to do the hallmark headdress, but I can show you one of my favorite YouTube beauty gurus, Nicole Guerriero who did a wonderful job herself. Check it out, you'll love it. :)

     Until next time, have fun discovering the Maleficent in you.

Loves,
    Jessica Ashley

Will You Be Rockin' it Tonight?

     Behold! I have returned! I come bearing a new video tutorial for your own entertainment. Yes, I FINALLY made my next tutorial, I know. It's actually straight from the assignments I've been doing for my makeup class. I learned some new tricks with Scotch tape. Who knew it could be so beneficial in the beauty world?

     I'm very glad that this video pulled together. While I was filming it, my camera was at twenty percent battery life, and I had a feeling it might die somewhere in the middle, but I pressed through anyway. Just like I had previously suspected, after having been filming for thirty minutes (don't worry, the video's not that long) I had about a minute and a half to go, and guess what? Yup, it died... I was not pleased. I plugged it in immediately, turned it back on, and searched my camera for the video, but I couldn't find it! I thought I'd lost it all! What?? Almost completely done with a tutorial, and it all goes ka-plooy right as I'm about to make my last marks? No way!
     Fear not though, I waited another minute, and it appeared on the memory! Phew...that was a relief. So, I continued filming, and now have what is presented before you.

     I know, I probably won't film it vertical frame next time, but hey. You can see me clearly, and that's what matters, right?

   
For all those of you now wondering know how in the world are you ever supposed to successfully apply false lashes, and make them look believable, don't worry. I got your back.

Loves,
   Jessica Ashley

Easy Spring Look

     Check it out! It's my first tutorial, and I hope that I FINALLY got the sound to cooperate.




Let me know what you think! I'm still learning, always learning more. :)

Loves,
  Jessica Ashley

DIY Makeup Brush Jars

     I'm back! Recently, I've collected a "few" more brushes than I have room for storing them where I can get to them...effectively, anyway. So, I finally went to the craft store and got a few things. Very cheap, and very easy project. :)

     I put together a nice little video to walk you through it, in case any of you are doubting just how simple it is. You can decorate as you like of course, but I happen to like the simple look of clear. :)

Enjoy!

Loves,

   Jessica Ashley