Fancy Face Cosmetics

Well, if you’re like me and wait until the last minute to shop, don’t feel bad, Santa has all year to prepare and unlike Mr. Kringle, we don’t have a factory full of elves to do the dirty work for us! Here are some fabulous last minute gifts I’ve found, that are sure to impress(and fool into thinking you spent all year shopping for them) everyone on your list.

Sugar Plums Are So Last Year
Give your friends one last sugary hurrah before their weighty New Years resolutions kick in. This DC bakery’s menu includes seasonal sensations like chocolate eggnog cupcakes, Rudolph red velvet, and the Red Mitten Vanilla (Madagascar bourbon cake slathered with vanilla cream cheese frosting and a fondant mitten)! Build your own assortment of one dozen flavors for $29 or snag a pre-arranged cupcake collection, and tell Georgetown Cupcakes what day you’d like your sweets to arrive!

Send A Shot In A Snap
Create an entire photo album for a loved one in mere seconds with Kodak’s digital frame. Snag the hardware for less than $100 on Amazon (where you can order online as late as December 23rd for a Christmas delivery), and instantly add pictures via email. The digital frame also logs photos sent from your phone and connects directly to a computer for easy uploading.

Spread Some Holiday Beer
Now the man in your life doesn’t have to scram to the local bar to get great beer on tap. Heineken and Krups have teamed up to bring your kitchen a counter-top beer tender. For $149.99 this man-chanism chills a brew to the perfect temperature and pours a traditional foam-topped pint from the chrome draught. Order it from Zappos by 1pm on December 23rd and receive your man’s new best friend (sorry, Sparky) by the 25th.

Gifts That Keep On Giving
Give a gift that will give back. When you visit ChangingThePresent.org, low-priced gifts with a seriously high value can be made online in seconds. Adopt your pal an adorable Sea Otter for $25 from Defenders of Wildlife, help fund feminist movements in Afghanistan for $35, or feed a child for one month for $50 with a single donation to Action Against Hunger.

Instant E-Reader
For less than $100 you can walk in to a Barnes and Noble near you, and walk out with the hottest tablet on the market. Unlike the Kindle from Amazon, the Nook is available in-store, and each B&N has a fully staffed support center for all of your questions and repairs. The new model lets you read books and magazines in color, load movies and TV with Netflix and Hulu, and has a touch screen display with a battery that lasts for two months.

Haute Card-Tour
Unload your left over holiday cards and stationery impulse buys. Upscale stores like Papyrus and Kate’s Paperie sell gorgeous paper goods perfect for a hostess. Add a pretty pen or matching notebook and voila! A high-society gift with a low-budget price tag. (Christian Lacroix Haute Couture Note Card Set, $20 at Kate’s Paperie)

iLazy
You didn’t pre-plan holiday shopping so pay the sloth forward with this Apple remote, which controls iPods, iPads, and iPhones from afar. It’s the perfect present for the post-seasonal food coma. Order by December 20th and expect your Apple purchase to arrive by Christmas.($19 at Apple)

Send Some Holiday Ahhhh
How do you wrap a massage, or put a bow on a pedicure? Thanks to Life Booker, the website with fantastic salon and spa deals, you can buy a beauty service on the cheap and instantly email the gift card to a girlfriend. Plus, when your pal signs up to be a member of the site, Life Booker will give you a $10 kick back to use on yourself! You know, because gifting can be so stressful…

‘Tis the Season to Twinkle
Give the gift that Glistens, even after the Holidays are over. Fancy Face Cosmetics will customize a Makeup Collection, specifically for the “impossible to shop for” girl in your life, complete with a Fancy Makeup Bag, and custom card. Order by December 22, to guarantee holiday delivery.

Happy Holidays!
Nikki

December is flying by, but it’s not too late to get involved and help others. Here are a few simple things you can do to make someone’s holidays a little brighter.

Ring A Bell
The Red Kettle Christmas Campaign enables the Salvation Army to provide food, toys and clothing to over 6 million people during the Christmas season and helps more than 34 million Americans recovering from all kinds of personal disasters nation wide.

Serve A Warm Meal
What better way to make someone else feel better than to provide a nice, hot meal? By helping out at the local soup kitchen, whether it be cooking, clearing tables, chopping vegetables or serving coffee, you will be helping many people avoid going to bed hungry for the night.

Toys for Tots
The mission of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.

How I Give Back

I’m sure most of you spend Christmas Eve gathered around a big table with family and friends enjoying a hot meal, drinks,fun filled stories and the exchanging of gifts. My family and I spend this day just a little bit differently, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. About 4 years ago my mom had the idea to deliver care packages to the homeless downtown,we now call this day Operation Goody Bag. My family and I start buying a few extra items each time we grocery shop in early November. By the time December 24th rolls around we have enough supplies to make 20 bags. Last year the bags included homemade sandwiches, bottled water,juice, enough snacks to last a week, hand warmers, socks, blankets, gloves, winter hats, rain ponchos and even some baked goods donated by a local bakery. My entire family gathers early Christmas Eve to assemble the bags, we then take the train downtown and distribute these bags all across the city to those who aren’t even fortunate enough to have a warm place to stay. We’ve seen entire families living in dark alleys and even War Veterans living under bridges. Every year I wish I had enough resources to get all these people off the streets and into a shelter, times are tough and in the Chicago harsh winter the limited shelter resources are quickly depleted. I’m so grateful to be able to help a small portion of those in need during the holiday season and I encourage all of you to donate just a little bit of your time this year. The smiles and thank yous I receive from someone who has never been given anything is enough for me to strive to grow Operation Goody Bag each year.

Happy Holidays
XOXO
Amanda

Let’s face it, there is always someone on our holiday shopping list that has everything, follow our gift guide below for this seasons hottest gifts for even the hard to buy for.

Rock n Roll Gifts for the Music Lover
Skullcandy – Aviator Headphones

ADVENTURES FOR THE ADRENALIN JUNKIES
Gift Certificate for Skydiving or Bungee Jumping

FITNESS GIFTS FOR THE WORKOUT GURU
Fresh New Workout Gear

The Tech Savvy
The Apple Ipad

The Entertainer
A Unique Wine Rack

The Diva
Relaxing Day at the Spa

The Chef
A Knife Set

Have you found the perfect gift this holiday season?? Send us your gift ideas to holiday@fancyfacecosmetics.com for your chance to win a $100 Gift Certificate.

Happy Holidays
XOXO
Amanda

Braided Bun
If you’re going from the office to a holiday party, you can easily put your hair up in a braided top knot. Start by pulling your hair into a high ponytail. Separate into three sections and braid it. Then, twist the braid into a knot or bun.

Classic chignon
The chignon can take you from dinner with your boyfriend’s parents to a cocktail party without missing a beat. The classic chignon can be centered, but looks very alluring when placed to one side.

Simple Side Braid
To create a sweet side braid, simply make a low ponytail on one side of your neck, and then braid it. This hairstyle doesn’t have to be done perfectly to look amazing. In fact, if it’s a little messy, it adds to the appeal.

Haute half-up, half-down ‘do
If an updo is not for you, how about a half-up, half-down holiday hairstyle? Simply pull the front portion of your hair up and away from your face, leaving the long, loose waves in the back. Secure your hair with crystal-encrusted combs, beaded clips or a glamorous headband.

Sexy waves
No one says you have to wear your hair up to every party or event. Long waves are sexy and beautiful. To get wonderful waves, spritz dry hair with heat-protecting spray, and then separate it into workable sections. Pin up the top layers so you can easily work with the layers underneath. Using a big barrel curling iron held vertically, wrap a section of the hair around the iron (don’t use the clamp). Wrap from the tip all the way to about two inches from the roots. When you are finished, gently run your fingers through your hair to loosen the curls into beautiful long waves and spritz all over with holding spray to complete the look.

“I think that the most important thing a woman can have next to talent, of course- is her hairdresser.”
Joan Crawford

XOXO
Amanda

We absolutely love Gold Eye makeup right now! It’s seasonally appropriate and will look great on any eye shape or color. Plus– we’re suckers for sparkle. Here’s how to get this look:

1. Prepare your eye by using an eyeshadow primer or foundation so that your eyeshadow will last longer.

2. Apply brown eyeshadow with a flat shadow brush.

3. Next, apply gold eye shadow towards the inner corner of your eye.

4. Sweep smoke shimmer on the outer corner of your eye with a blending brush, creating the sideways “V” shape.

5. Blend out any harsh lines created by the black + gold eye shadows.

6. This is the fun part! Dab Glitz Fix lightly on top of the gold eyeshadow you applied earlier, pick up some gold glitter with your brush, begin patting it on top of the gold eyeshadow, but don’t extend it too much into the original brown eyeshadow.

7. Now you’re going to line your upper lash line with a black gel liner and your lower lash line with a brown gel. Using both browns + blacks through out this tutorial will keep things looking softer and not too harsh.

8. Dab a smudge brush into the brown eyeshadow and smudge it using a dabbing motion along your lower lash line, on top of the liner you just applied. This will help set the eyeliner and also help give you the smoky effect.

9. Curl your lashes and apply Lash Out! mascara, It’s Sweat-Proof, so you can dance the night away with no worries! If you’d like, you can add false lashes to give your look some extra drama.

Use Coupon Code: FancyFamily20 to receive 20% off your purchases on www.fancyfacecosmetics.com

Xoxo,
Nikki

After all of the passed hors d’oeuvres, eggnog, and pumpkin pie, how is anyone supposed to fit into their holiday presents? Arm yourself with our advice and make Frosty melt by avoiding these fitness mistakes you don’t even know you’re making!

Skip The 100 Calorie Packs
Low-cal snacks may seem like a great way to cut your daily intake, but these over processed foods can pack enough sugar to deter serious weight loss. It is the quality of nutrients that is important, not whether a food is low-fat or low-carb. Nutrient-dense foods are energizing and will make it easier to lose weight.

Not-So-Sweet N’ Low
Opting for artificial sweeteners can do more harm to your waistline than a 15-calories sugar packet. Recent studies have shown that aspartame may actually stimulate appetite and bring on a craving for carbohydrates. Even self-proclaimed “natural” sweeteners, like Splenda, made from sugar, are actually made from chlorinating sugar. Did you want a side of swimming pool with your morning coffee?

Cramping Your Style
It’s tempting to slouch and grip the machine when you’re climbing metaphorical Mount Everest on a Stairmaster, but only good posture can prevent overloading the wrong muscles, which can lead to muscle tension, strains, sprains and other injuries.

Eat Around The Clock
Skipping meals can lead to doubling up on portions later on. Make lunch your largest meal because your digestion peaks at mid-day, and it should include protein to maintain alertness. Dinner should be your smallest meal, because your digestion slows down at night. Dinner should include protein, greens and a healthy grain – the carbs will facilitate relaxation.

Add Weight To Lose Weight
While cardio is every girl’s fitness fallback, there are plenty of women ignoring strength training to focus on the treadmill. Strength training and building lean muscle mass is essential for weight control, weight loss and good health in general. Especially as you get older, strength training becomes more important.

Xoxo,
Nikki

Kind of an eyeopener…30% of people don’t exercise at all during the winter months and gain on average 10 or more pounds!?! While it’s tempting to hibernate and turn into a couch potato during the cold, winter months, this won’t help you stay in shape, maintain or reach your goal weight. Here are a few tips to keep your mind and body motivated to keep moving and eating healthfully when, baby, it’s cold outside!

1. Go for a walk. Most malls open their doors before the stores open as a service to the community. The temperature is constant, and there are usually many people to walk with you to help keep you motivated. Plus, you’ll know about the big sales before anyone else!

2. Try fitness videos. Workout DVDs are a great way to exercise in the comfort of your living room. You can even buy new or used workout DVDs on Amazon.

3. Create a home gym. Don’t worry; this doesn’t have to be expensive. You can easily set up a great workout area with a set of dumbbells, an exercise ball, a resistance tube with a door attachment and a jump rope, which should cost less than $100.

4. Go cross-country skiing. Like snowshoeing, cross-country skiing is an aerobic sport that works your whole body without stressing your joints. You can burn, on average, 560 calories or more an hour with a brisk cross-country ski excursion.

5. Dance! Salsa, swing or freestyle your way skinny with dancing. It’s a fun way to work your glutes, abs and legs when you’re stuck indoors. You may not be ready for a guest spot on Dancing With the Stars, but be sure to check out the latest craze by attending a Zumba class.

6. Become a yogi. Escape the winter blahs and find your inner zen with yoga. Not only is yoga meditative, you’ll also build muscle strength and balance holding those tough poses, you’ll also be more relaxed and toned after your winter-long practice.

Stay Fancy & Fit

XOXO
Amanda

So yesterday Nikki discussed giving your man a makeover…don’t worry we didn’t forget about you. Going from blah to brilliant does not require expensive spa treatments, high end cosmetics or a trip to fashion week. There are tons of ways to give yourself a mini makeover and really liven up your look without breaking the bank. Most of it starts with simple things you can do to improve on what you already have. A few inexpensive things to add to the mix and before you know it everyone will want to know the secret to your fabulous makeover.
1. Take stock of how you look now and how you want to look. If you want more radiant skin, different hair or a new look in clothing, you need to prioritize and come up with a plan that can work with both your schedule and budget.

2.Tackle inner beauty first. Look at your skin and hair and determine if you need improved nutrition to perk up both the way you feel and look. One of the biggest contributors to looking blah is feeling blah because of poor diet or lack of sleep. Be sure to get adequate rest, drink enough water during the day and make some dietary changes to help your body and skin look and feel more radiant. These changes cost basically nothing and have long lasting effects.

3.Visit a beauty school for a discount new hair style. Cosmetology schools provide less expensive services than established salons. Decide before you go what kind of new look you want for your hair and discuss with the instructors who will be best able to work with you. The services are less expensive and you won’t have any high end perks, but you will get a new hair cut, color or style for much less.

4.Shop cheap. Go to vintage and thrift stores. Often times you can find new or barely used designer clothing. When you shop these types of stores you never know what you might find.

5. Buying one or two makeup products a week will help your wallet and in a few months you will have a killer makeup collection. This season try lining your eye in a bright new shadow color or be brave and rock a red lip.

6.Whiten and brighten, clean and trim. Check your teeth and use a store bought whitener. Brighter teeth are one of those improvements that can get you noticed for the right reasons. Make sure your eyebrows are trimmed and shaped, the power of a clean brow is so underestimated.

Send me before and after pictures of your at home makeover and you could win FREE makeup!!

XOXO
Amanda

When it comes to holiday travel, most people are looking for ways to reduce the amount of stress, time, and worry that is typically associated. With a little careful planning and research, everyone heading out on a vacation can eliminate this unnecessary stress.

When travelling by air remember packing guidelines,most airlines have a 50 pound limit…you would be surprised how quickly that adds up. Leave yourself enough time on travel day to get to the airport and checked in on time…no one likes to be the one holding up a plane full of people by boarding at the last minute. I personally can’t fly with out my travel blanket and a stack full of gossip magazines,I would also recommend a dose of Airborne before boarding, being sick on vacation is not an option.

For those travelling by car, get a vehicle inspection before you hit the road. Don’t forget the the address of where you are heading and a GPS handy for those of you who are directionally challenged. Don’t forget to stock up on great music for the ride and some yummy snacks.

A few days before you hit the road, research the town and surrounding area where you will be staying. Try using Resturant.com for great dinning deals and Trip Advisor for hotel reviews.

Don’t stress about your normal gym routine being interrupted, try going for a run outside or working your legs by hitting the stairs.

Where ever you might be traveling this season, safe travels!  Stress isn’t Fancy so breathe easy and enjoy what the new city has to offer. 

xoxo
Amanda

Let’s face it ladies, we’re not the only ones who get stuck in a beauty rut. Whether your guy has been sporting the same haircut since high school, or his “scruffy” looks more slimy than sexy like Ryan Gosling, here’s how to help him clean up his look. Trust me, they will appreciate your advice, because it’s you they’re trying to look good for.

To get a look this rough without going overboard, shave only once a week to keep facial hair in check. Unless you look like Teenwolf after a few days, then shave every other day.

How To Shave
Curious how to get that perfect shave? It’s all about the tools, and more doesn’t always mean better.
Considering most men go over the same section of the face more than once, you could potentially be gliding the blade over each area up to six times with the triple razor even though you performed only two passes of the razor.
A.K.A. If your guy has sensitive skin, he might want to skip the triple blade razor and opt for a single blade.

The Eyebrow Do’s & Don’ts
It’s no secret that eyebrows can make or break your appearance, and this truth is no exception for men. For guys, just a few tweezes here and there can make a huge difference; take it easy or he’ll wind up with a more feminine look. Take a cue from Jake Gyllenhaal, who keeps his brows looking clean without losing the masculine shape.

The Short of It
Taylor Lautner’s texturized hair is just one example of how to show off shorter strands amongst the sea of spiky ‘dos. The secret to making short hair stand out among the rest? Keep it clean and well-styled, without being too simple. Lautner’s smooth faux-hawk certainly fits that bill.

A Happy Medium
If your guy has medium length hair, make sure it moves. Jon Hamm’s medium ‘do has movement and shape, which allows for easy styling like the dapper look he’s sporting here. There’s no better way to update your guy’s look than by giving him the right haircut for his face shape; in the case of Hamm’s oval face shape that means a nice, happy medium.

The Long
Us girls aren’t the only ones rocking long locks these days. If a guy has longer hair, he should use it to show off his personal style, just like Ashton Kutcher. His long and naturally wavy chestnut hair is fashion-forward, while showing off his casual and cool persona.

Going Grey
George Clooney proves that he does get better with age, thanks to his sexy salt and pepper hair. (The deep brown eyes and killer smile don’t hurt, either.) But if your guy can’t stand the grey hairs, he’s better off heading to a professional stylist, than trying an at-home kit. It’s extremely difficult to determine the right hair color and often times when choosing the wrong formula, a man’s hair will fade to red. If it’s just a few strands, have a professional color the sections, as opposed to coloring the whole head.

Good luck! Keep me posted on the results!
xoxo,
Nikki