Weekend readings and wantings and doings and musings...

I'll attempt my first fluro mani this weekend a la the lovely nails above. 

Do a Ballerina (Sock) Bun in under two minutes... this video is one long shot - no edits - so it is definitely possible to do!

I keep playing this animated GIF over and over (make sure to hit the play button on the music below it). So cute and upbeat... I'm inspired to try it myself (she led me to this Aladdin's cave of a website too).

Love this GIF too.

His Paris paintings are great but his paintings of cake are even better!

DIY Sugar Waxing revisited and the follow-up post with tips.

Switzerland love.

Stay trim by eating like these women.

Do I like Tootsie Rolls? I wouldn't be a child of the '80s if I didn't. And I wouldn't be a modern day yuppie-hippie if I didn't drool over this homemade Tootsie Roll recipe. 

Forget chocolate. Please wrap one of these and seal the package with one of these for me for Valentine's Day.

Have two cents to offer to this housework debate?

Try the pastel hair-color trend without the commitment. 

This dress. 

This song and that song and this song and that song. Clearly my musical tastes are stuck in 2009.

And I've been thinking about this song from the Tiger Lillies concert I saw in 2005 with my lovely Slovene friends M and T at Soho Theatre (yipes... I need some new material). 

Curl up for some winter reading.

Figure out what exactly all that fancy speak means on your egg cartons.

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HOW TO | Fave Lisa Eldridge makeup tutorials

Lisa Eldridge is a seriously lovely lady with incredible makeup tutorials for every look imaginable. I've been watching her videos since she started and regularly post some of my favorites of her videos here. Sorry if I'm repeating myself. Can't help it. I always go back to her tutorials.

Since no-makeup makeup has been my M.O. of late but I do love a hint of color, I love her chic and simple 5-minute makeup look and this (soon to be my go-to makeup for a night out) party look, which is just a bit more glamorous than daytime no-makeup makeup but still not in-your-face.

The first look in her one lipstick many different ways is exactly what I do with some of my more vibrant lipsticks (and even tinted balms) during the day (love doing this (putting on cheeks and lips) with Burt's Bees tined balms in Rose and Red Dahlia).

Her acne cover-up tutorial is incredible. The before and after look like two different people.

One the theme of using one color all-over, she does a great video on how to work the color into the eye area as well... and love the dusty rose/mauve used.

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HOW TO | Tips on DIY Ballerina Bun

So first we did a super quick before and after with the ballerina bun vs. the pencil eraser (my non-enhanced bun). We then did our first DIY beauty video featuring the Ballerina Bun and only one (or two) editing errors. And now we have a list of tips because even with a video, it's easy to still get it wrong. We know. We have.

After cutting off the toes of countless socks, we think we're well-placed to give you some advice on what works best.

Our Ballerina Bun tips:

1. The type of sock matters. Silly as it sounds. Cotton athletic socks that are stubby or stiff or both don't work well. The hair doesn't hold onto them, they're heavy, the don't roll well and they're usually white or black -- two obvious colors that'll show right through.

2. Long (knee-high) although slightly thin dress socks (men's but bet women's would work as well). In fact, they seem to be optimal when they have a plush finish - like a wool/cashmere blend. So, erm, not cheap. But if you have strays around the house, use one of those. The hair drapes over them nicely and seems to almost stick to the texture of the sock, spreading out around it and evenly covering it. And the sock is light so it won't move around or slip out.

3. Tuck and roll. Keep tucking your hair under as you roll it down or you'll have a donut of air between your hair and the sock donut and any sort of weather will expose your dirty hair secret - the sock beneath that's given you such a freakin' awesome (and big) bun.

4. Pull hair around your head to loosen a bit so you don't look severe or like you're sporting a Croydon facelift. This look works better when it's just a touch messy and not all prim and proper.

5. Hairspray helps. So can pins. Neither are necessary unless you think wild head movement is going to be part of your day.

6. Color of sock matters, especially if you have thin hair and/or you're new to the Ballerina Bun. I use a dark grey sock, BUT I'm pretty good at doing this by now. If you aren't, use a sock that's somewhat similar to your hair color. Generally, everyone should avoid white as it's so obvious if it shows through. 

7. People will touch it. Sounds dirty, right? But true. My husband thinks it's a handle. People will pat it. They won't be able to resist the urge to squeeze it. Or maybe I just hang out with weird people. Anyway, forewarned is forearmed.

Have any other questions about the Ballerina Bun?

Image found here.