Happy Voting Day! It's a "bold" kinda morning.

So, here is the deal: first of all, Happy Voting Day! I feel like writing in bold today. I hope you don't mind. I do not care whom you vote for (although I hope it is the candidate I like) as long as you vote. I have to figure out where my voting location is, since I have moved. I believe I am still registered at the beach, which is a looonnngg drive from my apartment, but umm, it's definitely for a great cause. Let's just say it's worth the gas money. Good luck to you all in your decisions; I hope you have made them yourselves and researched everything the candidate you are picking stands for.

 

In other news, I have pictures for y'all. Dur dur durrrrrr. Why? Because it's VOTING DAY and I have nothing further of importance to write about. Oh! Except one thing. I got my first Umba Box in the mail yesterday! I was really excited, and although B will deny it up and down, I know he was anticipating what I got when I told him. I got two really adorable things, and one tasty treat! We ate those tasty treats (homemade caramel clusters) right when he got home and they were gone FAST.

 

 

Oh hi! I gots my haircut! :P

 

 

 

 

 We are in love because we get along so well. We get along so well, because we're both the biggest dorks in the world. <3

 

 

 Dinner at Seasons 52 to celebrate my new job, but not before...

 

 

;) Things aren't always perfect, but he sure treats me well.

 

 

Then, we had friends over. Michelle is my long-lost-best friend! We used to be inseperable about 4-5 years ago, and we are often told we look like sisters. Her man friend (whom is an old friend of mine, as well) came along, too. We played "The Noun Game" (you can never possibly know how fun it is until you've played. Don't judge it based on the name of the game. Haha!) and grilled out by the pool. By the pool? Yes, don't forget I live in Florida.

 

 

Lastly, we (by we, I mean I made them & Brandon helped pick stuff out) made these homemade decorations for our home. They are sitting atop our island in the kitchen and I really adore them. On the left we've got potpourri (I don't know what "flavor" as Brandon likes to call it, but if there was one called FREAKIN' AWESOME SMELLING, that'd be it!). The skinny vase has red sand and a few cherries in the bottom, with the stick of berries, of course. The last one, with the black bow around it, is just a bowl full of fake, glittery cherries. I love DIY decorations. They've made our apartment come together a lot faster.

 

I am pretty sure that's all I have for now. Pretty please DO NOT forget to read the POST BELOW (readddd it, do it, pwese) and pick a tutorial. Thanks!

 

Almost 100 followers! Whooo! Quick question for y'all!

Hello, gorgeous ladies! With my new job (eeeek!) starting probably Tuesday or Wednesday, I have time to write ONE tutorial before then. I wanted to give you all, my fabulous followers, the option of what that tutorial would be on. You get to pick from three options.

 

MAKEUP BRUSHES- "What are these things? What is each one even used for?"

It's perfectly okay to not know what all of your brushes in your set (if you have one) are for. This is one option for a tutorial. I can pick out a popular brush set & go brush by brush to give you the 411 on what to use it for. It's understandable that it can get confusing. There are a LOT of brushes that come in a good set!

 

EYEBROW PENCIL TRICK- "I've heard you can use a pencil to get a perfect arch. Is this true? How do I do it?"  Yes, this is true. If you don't want to spend the money getting your eyebrows professionally done and would rather do them yourself, more power to you! I can show you how to use a pencil (yes, like a school pencil with an eraser) to get the perfect arch in your brow. That is another option for a tutorial.

 

 

 

 

SMOKEY EYED LOOK- "I have never been able to nail this look. I see it on so many women and it looks amazing. I want to learn how to do it!" It's totally fine that you haven't nailed the smokey eyed look. It takes practice, and a lot of patience, in my opinion. I can teach you, and even include a youtube video I found on how to start practicing this look. Every woman should know how to get the sexy smokey eyes! This is your third option.

 

So here is the deal: You get to pick one tutorial for this week. That's only because I am going to be so busy training and all those other sorts of shenanigans this week, too. I am SO very happy to have this job, but I also want to take care of my readers! So, with learning how to balance my time (I have been reading an E-course on loving my blog--balancing real life time & blogging time is a big part of the course, thank God) and my new job, I want to give you a tutorial that will help you out tremendously. Just because we can only do one this week, doesn't mean the other two are gone for good. That just means they will be added to a list of tutorials for another time.

 

"So what do you want me to do, Brani?", you might be asking yourselves. Look them over, decide which tutorial would best help you out right now, and leave a comment with which one you want to learn how to do/use this week. That's right; it's really simple. Just leave a comment with either: brushes, pencil arch trick, or smokey eyed look. I'll give you all time to leave a sufficient amount of answers and then get started writing the tutorial. Please understand that I feel so extremely blessed to have found this job, that until I know what my schedule is going to be like and how blogging will get done (and it will; I promise it will), this is how it's going to work. So, happy choosing! I'll get to that tutorial ASAP once your answers have been submitted.

 

PS. About my job--I will tell you in time. I still have to put notice in at my other one on Monday. I loved serving, but with the car accident and all of my injuries, I just couldn't do it anymore. This new job is the type of job that I can grow in, and make a career out of. Thanks for all of the congratulations. :)

 

 

 

More DIY stuff: Fix Those Winter...errr, Fall Blues!

Hello, darlings! Really quickly! I had the lovely, talented, sweet Lauren over at The Perfect Pear help me out with a new design for this blog! She was willing to help, and I couldn't be more thankful for the amazing job that she did. This is exactly what I had hoped for, even if I couldn't really put it into words for her; she still managed to get it. She really helped me out, and I am beyond happy with the results. Does your blog need a makeover? Visit her design page: right here. You will not be disappointed. Now, of course, some things here are still under construction. If you find a broken link or anything that is funky and shouldn't be like it is right now, please email me at branilaine@gmail.com and let me know! Thank you & enjoy!

I got tons of positive feedback when I posted the DIY Face Masks a few days ago. I am so thrilled that you all loved the idea so much. I am in a really great mood because...guess what! I FINALLY got the job that I have been wanting the most, and just a job period! I have been so bored, besides the blogging world--that yes, I have actually been ready to get back to work since the car accident. I will share with you all what the job is later. Let's just say--I'm thrilled! Anyway, with that being said, I have taken it upon myself to do some drastic things with this blog (that are coming in the near future). Also, my best friend Amanda over at Wible Bible (Funny) and I will be starting a fashion & beauty blog that we are tag-teaming. I really believe it's going to be a hit, with her writing skills and eye for fashion and my love for everything beauty-related. I will keep y'all posted, of course, when "Friends Take the Catwalk" is ready for viewing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                (Me, in need of some hair masks, for sure!)

 

 

Without further ado... (I cannot take credit for most of these treatments. I will post only one treatment today that is "mine" and that will be located at the bottom) please take a looksie at the following rescue missions that are from the site Beat the Dry Winter Blues. Anyone that knows me knows that I will never take credit where credit is not due.

 

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HAIR TREATMENTS:

Here are several homemade hair masks that can rescue dull, dry strands. You can do most of them once a week for repair and maintenance. With each, my suggestion is to comb the tangles from your hair prior to application. Then after applying the treatment, use a wide toothed comb to evenly spread the mixture throughout your hair. Also, keep in mind that most of the masks can cause quite a mess. Wear something to protect your clothing and cover with a shower cap or plastic cling wrap. It will also be further beneficial to wrap your hair in a warm towel or use a hair dryer on a low heat setting to deeply penetrate your locks. (Note from Brani Laine: the low heat setting with your blow dryer does WONDERS with hair masks). Oh, and you may want to coincide the weekly treatments with the days you clean your tub – the oil in the masks will leave a slippery residue in your tub or sink.

The Olive Oil Basic: Massage a well-mixed paste of 5 T of olive oil and 2 and/or use a wide-toothed comb to spread evenly. Cover hair with a shower cap for 15-20 minutes, then rinse well. Shampoo as usual.

The Sweet Life: Mix 1/3 c honey, 3 T olive oil and 1 egg yolk. Apply to hair, cover with shower cap and leave on for 30 minutes. Rinse and shampoo as usual.

Sweet and Sour: Mix 1 T olive oil, 2 T honey and 1 T apple cider vinegar and massage into the hair and scalp. Cover with a cap for 1 hour then rinse and shampoo as usual.

Land of Milk and Honey: Massage a paste of 2 ripened mashed bananas, 2 T honey and ½ c milk on to hair. Cover with a cap for 20 minutes, rinse and shampoo as usual.

Heal It Now: Apply a thick paste of 1 T oatmeal, 1 T milk and 1 T almond oil to hair. Cover with a shower cap for 20 min, rinse then shampoo as usual.

 

The Shining: Massage into hair a thoroughly mixed paste of 2 ripened mashed bananas, 3 T mayonnaise and 1 T olive oil. Cover with a cap for 30 minutes then rinse and shampoo as usual.

Strawberry Fields Forever: Mash 8-10 medium strawberries and mix with 1 T mayonnaise. Apply to hair, cover with a shower cap for 30 minutes, rinse and shampoo as usual.

Almond Joy Power Punch: Add a few drops of almond oil to 1 ripened mashed banana. Massage into hair, cover and leave in for 15 minutes. Rinse with soda water, then shampoo as usual.

The Green Frizz Tamer: Mix together 1 ripened mashed avocado, 1 T honey and 2 T olive oil. Apply creamy paste to hair, cover and leave for 30 minutes. Rinse and shampoo as usual.

The Exotic Super Fruit Plus: Add ½ c plain yogurt to 1 (seeded) pureed papaya. Apply and cover. After 30 minutes rinse and shampoo as usual.

Dry No More: Apply a well-blended mixture of ½ c mayonnaise and 2 T honey to hair. Cover for 30 minutes, then rinse and shampoo as usual.

 

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So, that's a bunch of options, right? I am sure you will find one that best suits you or that pops out at you and says "try me!" Okay, now time for the DIY that I have been using since I was in middle school, maybe even younger. Yes, I started the beauty loving thing at a very young age. There are DIY scrubs like this that many people use, and I did not know this until I read it in some magazine, but this is my version and I swear on the Bible that I have been using it since I was younger. DO NOT USE THIS right before you are about to head out somewhere. It takes time for the product to wear off a bit!

 

What you will need:

Olive oil

Sugar (regular ol' sugar)

Small tupperware container (enough to hold a can of soup)

 

Why is that it? Because this is the easiest and most affordable DIY scrub you will ever use, most likely.

 

What you will do:

Take the tupperware container, make sure it is ALL cleaned out and dried. Pour in 7-8 tablespoons of sugar. Pour in (judge this on your own, please; it will vary per person & you might need more or less) 6-7 tablespoons of olive oil. Mix together well. It should look similar to this (which is the batch I just made):

 

 

 

Now for the best part--get in the bath tub (or shower...but I prefer a relaxing bath) and take the scrub (with your hands) and rub it ALL over your legs, arms, and whole body. Keep out of private areas! Yes, it will be oily and you will think "Is it supposed to feel this yucky?" The answer is yes. Once you let it sit for 10 minutes, rinse it all off, and when you're out of the bath or shower, dry off! Use the towel to rub off as much as you possibly can. You will still feel a bit oily, so don't sit on any furniture or anything you wouldn't want to possibly get a spot on. Sitting on your towel would be the best choice. After the oily feeling starts to go away, your legs and body will still feel soft (maybe you will have a man touching those legs of yours later? He will love the softness!), but the best part of all is that you exfoliated like a pro! WARNING: PLEASE, PLEASE BE CAREFUL getting out of the shower/tub after using this exfoliating scrub because it is oily and can be very slippery! Also, warn anyone that will be showering/bathing after you. Clean out the tub as best you can! One time my boyfriend almost slipped after I did this DIY scrub. Lesson learned. Enjoy, and please do not hesitate to let me know how any (especially my own) DIY "product" worked for you! Comments are right below. ;)

 

 

 

Here she is, ladies & gentlemen...Whitney!

I have the most AMAZING guest blogger today for you all! HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Here's Whitney:

Hey everyone! My name is Whitney, I blog over at The Middle of the Street and I am SO stoked to be hanging out here at Brani's with all y'all.  I love coming here for her wonderful fashion advice and gorgeous photos.  It's a nice change of pace from my blog where I have nothing specific to say, you kinda just get what is on my mind at the moment.  If you like what I say, come on over and say hi.

 A little about me: I'm married to thee studliest man in the tristate area. His name is Landon.  I call him Land Shark. (Yes, because of the Jenna Marbles video.) He is working at a motorcycle dealership where he is stealing all their secrets so he can open his own one day. Oh, and he is super hot.

 

 

 

 

Yep. That's us. 

As for me, I'm a 6 foot tall Super Sophomore at Utah Valley University (aka, I've been a sophomore for the last 4 years. I laugh to keep from crying). I work for a construction company in their quality control department. Where I control the quality of the asphalt they use to make roads. What I'm saying is, your life is in my hands. Do I deserve that type of responsibility? I'll let you decide.

 

Now, today I am trying to fit in with Brani's fashion theme by addressing a very well-known matter to most women.  

 

High heels.

 

And when I say "most" I mean "probably every other chick in the world, besides myself."  It's Halloween today, as we all know, and Land Shark and I dressed up as rock stars.  I bought these mega awesome, bright yellow heels.

 

 

 

But as you remember from about a paragraph ago, I said I was 6 feet tall. So you can go ahead and assume that I do not wear heels. Ever.  So, when I showed up to my friend's Halloween party last Friday, people thought I had done some pre-party drinking because of the way I was walking.  Growing up, people would see me and would be all, "You're so tall! You should be a model." I promise you they would retract that statement if they saw me in heels.  So, I guess what I am getting at here is, "Ladies, how do you do it?" I'm serious. I bought these shoes and I don't want to have to put them away and never wear them again because I can't get from the front door to the car without spraining something.  So let's hear your tips.  Because let's be honest.  Flats are not always the best option.  But let's be honest, I really don't have another option. Ha! 

 

                                 Next time, we'll address another tall girl problem I have.

"Where do you find jeans that are long enough?"

 

Thanks for hanging out with me today! Come on by my place anytime you like!

 

NOTE FROM BRANI LAINE: You better! Is she not the cutest, most hilarious gal ever?!

DIY Facial Masks & More

Tomorrow, I have a wonderful surprise for you all from a woman that I adore in more ways than one. Until then, you get two of Maria Menounos' DIY facial masks, and a very important lesson in beauty safety.

 

 

 

You, too, can get a glowing complexion. No matter what your skin is like now, it is NEVER too late to start on perfecting it. Please believe me. I have horrible, acne-prone skin and I do my absolute best to take care of it. I use great products, wash my face twice daily, and do so many things to get it looking celeb red carpet ready. You can, too! Here are some of Maria's DIY facials. Try 'em! Can't hurt, can it?

 

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MILK OF MAGNESIA FACIAL

Ingredients:
1 bottle of milk of magnesia (unflavored)

Preparation:
Apply the milk of magnesia to your face. Wash with a cool washcloth after ten minutes.

(THAT ONE IS SUPER EASY!)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


MY TZATZIKI FACIAL
(or, for the non-Greeks--My Cucumber-and Yogurt Facial!)

Ingredients:
1/2 cucumber, peeled & sliced
1 tablespoon yogurt

Instructions:
Puree the cucumber and yogurt in a blender and apply it evenly to your face. Leave it on for fifteen to twenty minutes. Rinse with cool water and a soft washcloth.

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Okay, that is it! Can't be hard. Try at least one, and let me know how it worked out for you. I will be trying the Milk of Magnesia one, since we do not have a blender here. ;)

*Ahem* Ready for your beauty safety tip?

This one I have known about for years, but am sharing with you all because it's no secret, but not many women know about it. If you continue to follow my blog, you will learn so many tricks and tips about beauty, such as this one I am going to share with you.

 

Ahh, yes, the beloved bath loofah & sponge. We love them, as ladies, because they make using body wash that much simpler and help us to exfoliate, as well. BUT! Did you know...you MUST get rid of your bath loofah or sponge after a certain amount of time because ALL it is doing is building up bacteria & germs essentially? Get rid of them after...

 

Loofahs-every 3 weeks!

Sponges-every 6-8 weeks!

 

Don't believe me? Google it. I promise you! Or read this article:

 

Getting Rid of Your Shower Sponge on Time

EDIT: Emily R. left a good point in the comments, which is actually at the end of the above article, as well. You can sanitize your loofahs and sponges (in the washer with super hot water & bleach), if you prefer that method, and want to spend the short time doing that. That is always an option; I just wanted y'all to know they need to at least be cleaned or thrown out. :] CVS has sponges for $1-2 in my area. Thanks for the comment, Emily!

 

Have a lovely day/night, ladies. Stay tuned for the surprise tomorrow! :) Hope this article was helpful & enjoyable. Let me know in the comments!

 

 

 

They are HERE! The Fall Photoshoot Pics are hereeee!

*Dolls, I have been waiting for this moment!*

The fall photoshoot pics are edited and here for you to take a look at! ;) Tell me what ya think! Big thanks goes out to my amazing boyfriend Brandon for not only taking them, but editing them and putting up with my shenanigans throughout the process. Without further adooooo...GO LOOK:

 

Brani Laine's Fall Photoshoot '12

 

 

 

(also BIG thanks goes out to D for helping me get this temp layout up while I'm waiting for the lovely Lauren to help me with my super cool one that's coming! Can't waittttt! PRETTY PLEASE COMMENT with all your thoughts!)

 

 

Get excited! It's PIC-SHORE Timeeee!

Brandon and I are BIG into photography (I usually play the part of model, but this was James Bond themed & crime scene themed)! So, we got several amazing shots; more on their way, of course. But okay, you wanna know the REALLY IMPORTANT NEWS, right?: I will make sure you don't pee your pants with anticipation. I had been battling the "I have been a dark brown, daaaark brown brunette my entire life. I have never colored it. Should I at least try? My mother would never let me touch it. Well, I did a few "temporary" colors...like once in high school, once several years ago, and they looked fun, but mostly stupid. I tried a more sophisticated color this time. PLEASE tell me what you think!

 

BEFORE...

 

 

 

AFTER...

 

 

AGHHHHH! Thoughts? I think I love it. I think. Ahhhh! I dunno! Please tell me what y'all think. Please. Brandon says he loves it, but that is sorta because he has to. Hahaha ;) So mozy on down there to the comments! And on to the James Bond / Crime Scene shots!

 (this is currently my Facebook cover photo!)

 

and

 

(this is currently Brandon's Facebook cover photo!)

 

Which one do you like best? He's such a great photographer & editor!

 

There is soooo much good stuff coming to this blog. A new layout, and some things I can't discuss yet, but I think those of you that visit me on a daily basis and I like to consider "friends" will be excited! To all the new people, welcome! Please follow, as I enjoy every new follower that I have. Feel free to leave a comment. A wise friend once told me something along the lines of, "It is best not to stalk in silence." Hehe!

One last thing: do y'all want another video blog next post? If so, what about? You can ask me some questions if you want and I will do a Q&A, whatever you suggest! :)