DIY Rhododendron Candelier on eHOW

My most recent eHOW article was published last week, and it's how to make a Rhododendron Chandelier inspired by this chandelier from Anthropologie! All you really need are round paper lanterns and cupcake liners to make the lighting fixture. The chandeliers really added beautiful dimension and texture to my room, and it was quite cost effective. Check out how to make your own here!

GQ & Glamour Magazine's Lookbook Live Event at the Shops at Mission Viejo

Happy Weekend! I'm currently on my way to Palm Springs, then Stagecoach with Alyssa from Living in Style OC! I'm super excited that Swim Spot has sponsored us to go! I wanted to share this event that I attended last Saturday in which GQ and Glamour Magazine hosted 'Lookbook Live', a spring fashion event at our very own Shops at Mission Viejo, go south county OC! Guests got to 'make a date with style' by enjoying date-themed Style Closets filled with different Spring looks for men and women, provided by the stores within the shopping center; complimentary beauty applications, stage fashion shows and style challenges; a photo booth; refreshments and giveaway opportunities.

Aside from having great Spring styles to choose from, style experts were providing one-on-one consultations. LOOKBOOK Live and The Shops at Mission Viejo partnered with Mission Hospital to honor four breast cancer survivors with a new head-to-toe look, including an outfit, hair and makeup makeover, courtesy of the center. The presentation is meant to bring awareness to the 13th annual Think Pink Breast Health Wall of Honor that will be displayed this October at The Shops at Mission Viejo. Each year, shoppers have the opportunity to honor or remember a loved one by donating $25 to place a hand-written card on the Wall of Honor. Donations to underwrite the cost of a mammogram or diagnostic procedure ($100) for someone who could not otherwise afford it, are also encouraged. 

I'm trying to put together a video of this event, so stay tuned! As well, follow my Stagecoach adventures on my Instagram or with the #fffgoestostagecoach and #blogchella. 

Spherical Orbs Hair Tutorial by Swell Beauty, Laguna Beach

Happy Wednesday everyone! I'm excited to share another Swell Beauty Hair Tutorial and this one results in a really fun hairstyle. Check out all the fun tutorials and shoots I've done with Swell Beauty here, as well as the blog posts I started writing for the Swell Beauty blog! You can also see how I styled this hairstyle here. Here's what you'll need to accomplish the hairstyle:

• 4 Rubberbands (Your Haircolor)
• Bobbypins (Your Haircolor)
• Sexy Hair Big Sexy Hair Volumizing Dry Shampoo *
• TigiS Factor Vivacious Hairspray*

*You can substitute these products with what you already have at home.

Book Hair/Make Up Services with Swell Beauty
1751 S Coast Hwy Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 579-2747
dee@swellbeauty.com

All Tutorial Photographs taken by Shawna of Bleudog Fotography, book her for your next event or to capture a special moment!

Step 1: Add Volume & Create the Top of the Hairstyle

Spray dry shampoo to your roots and tease the crown a bit with a comb. Then grab hair from the top and rubberband leaving room to create volume with the hair you tied, almost creating a small pompadour. 

Step 2: Grab & Secure the Next Section

Grab hair from both sides under the top section of hair and secure with a rubberband. Create a small opening between the two rubberbands with your fingers, then grab the ponytail and lace it through the hole from the top. Instead of lacing the hair all the way though, leave the hair 'bubbled' at the top to create the sphere look.

Step 3: Repeat

Repeat the tying, securing, and lacing of the hair to create the sphere look with the hair until you reach the bottom of your hairline.

Step 4: Secure & Spray

Bobby pin the hair that sticks out from the last 'sphere' into the rest of your hairline at the top of your neck. Also use your fingers to fan out each 'sphere' and bobby pin the sides down to really create the round look of the hair. Spray your entire head with hairspray.

Photos taken by Bleudog Fotography

Former International Princess Project Relaunches as Sudara

Happy Monday everyone! I've had the pleasure of getting to model Punjammies for Sudara, formerly the International Princess Project, on numerous occasions. The company has a beautiful, freedom-filled mission that supports educating and employing Indian Women that are survivors of sex-slavery; you can read more about it here and here. Shop their Spring/Summer 2015 collection, as well as their recently launched girls line; and stay tuned for more photos from my shoot with Sudara!

Photographer: Patrick Yandoc
Hair/Makeup: Jen Castelo
Stylist: Liana Wood
Punjammies Style: Sardha Full Pant

Blue Tie Dye Dress for Coachella Parties

When I attended Coachella day parties last Saturday during Weekend 1, I was excited to get to rock this PJ Salvage Tie-Dye Dress as it is quite fitting for the Coachella style. I received it as apart of my #Blogchella Survival Kit and the dress was very breezy, comfy, and I didn't own anything like it before. I styled the dress with camel colored sandals, mint sunnies, and a statement zinc necklace. The photos were taken at one of my fave hotels, The Saguaro in Palm Springs; I just swoon over all the colorful places in and around the hotel. Also, have you noticed that my hair is a different color? I recently had it dyed blue by Casie of Conway Grooming and I can't wait to share that experience with you; we also have some amazing hair tutorials coming your way! See details on this look below:

Retro Pastel Round Sunglasses in Mint Green, ZeroUV
Zinc Necklace, Raptor Jewelry
True Blue Tie-Dye Dress, PJ Salvage
Donddi Sandal in Tan Leather, Steve Madden

Photos taken by Andrew Nguyen & Kimberly Luu