Blonder Ambitions

Author: Kiki E.

  • Products I Swear By: To Style My Hair

    1. Garnier Fructis Style XXL Volume Mousse
    Amazing.  Smells great.  Gives lift, but it’s not sticky.  I work it into damp hair before blowdrying.
    2.  Got 2b Guardian Angel Gloss Finish Blow Out Lotion
    Protects against the high heat of my hair dryer.
    3. Conair Lightweight Ionic Ceramic Dryer
    Inexpensive and gets the job done.  Nothing dries my hair faster.
    4. Babyliss Pro Flat Iron with Pink Swarvoski Crystals
    Gets my hair stick straight and can add a cute flip to my ends.  Plus, the pink crystals are adorable.
    5. Infinity by Conair Instant Heat Ceramic 1.5″ Curling Iron
    The 1.5″ barrel provides the perfect soft, loose curl or beachy waves.  It also heats up super fast.
    6. Helen of Troy HotSetter Pro 20 Hot Rollers
    Totally old school. And totally perfect.  If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
    7. John Frieda Sheer Blonde Dream Creme Instant Silkener
    I couldn’t live without this.  Smoothes my hair without weighing it down.  Hides split ends and color damage.
    8. Small Multi-Teeth Flipside Comb
    Add volume, tease, sculpt, comb.  I use it for any and every style and to lift my roots.  Fits in my purse.
    9. Scunci No-slip Grip Beautiful Blends Bobby Pins
    The multi-colored bobby pins hold your style in place and totally disappear into your hair.  Amazing.
    10. Aqua Net Extra Super Hold Hairspray, Unscented
    It actually is unscented.  And does have extra super hold.  And doesn’t dry your hair.  My mom turned me onto this one.

  • To Fedora or Not to Fedora?

    Fedora, Gossip Boutique in Santa Barbara. Heart Necklace, F21. Timepiece Necklace, Vintage. Sunglasses, Roberto Cavalli. Blouse and camisole, Wet Seal. Shoes, Sketchers. Earrings, Betsey Johnson. Jeans, Red Engine.

    I love trends just as much as the next girl… and fedoras were huge last year.  I don’t care one bit if they are slightly out of fashion… I’m obsessed.  Menswear made sexy is one of my favorite statements and I thought it was perfect for a day of work related meetings all over Santa Barbara.

  • Current Obsession: Taking Pictures of What I Eat

    Bizarre. I know. But I am obsessed with taking pictures of food… And, don’t roll your eyes… I know I’m not the only one! Nearly everytime I’m about to consume something scrumptious, I snap a quick pic with the camera on my cell phone or my Nikon.  And… this would all be for naught… If I didn’t share the pictures with you. So, enjoy! Drool, dream, and live vicariously through what I’ve eaten lately*

    *I always clear my plate.

    From top left: fruit and cheese plate, strawberries with phyllo and cream, spinach egg scramble with sweet potato hash and fresh fruit, peach arugula salad with balsamic reduction, barbecue beef ribs, a variety of sushi, seared sesame ahi with asparagus spears, a seafood sampler with bruschetta and a turkey melt with truffle fries, chocolate souffle with vanilla bean ice cream, herb crusted lamb chops with brocollini, pumpkin cheesecake with cranberries, french toast, a variety of cupcakes, strawberry cheesecake, miniature cinnamon rolls, new york steak with caprese and ginger salad, chicken pot stickers, moussaka, fried doughnuts with vanilla ice cream, garlic fries with a petit filet and béarnaise sauce, french toast with fresh fruit, miniature lemon teacakes.

  • How To: Achieve the Perfect Pout

    Hey there, beauties.  A lot of girls ask me about my lipstick (it’s MAC’s St. Germaine… if you were wondering).  However, I think it’s less about the lipstick and more about the application.  For a full, flirty mouth… follow my tips below.  Excuse the messy hair and the gray tank top… But that is how I look when I’m prepping to go out of the house.  And, though you can’t see them, I’m wearing super cute gray leopard print pj pants with a hot pink drawstring… I’m telling you that in defense of my at-home fashion.  I provided you with a step-by-step photo tutorial and a video tutorial (pick whichever one is more your learning style)!


    Step 1: Lay out your materials.  A liquid foundation, your favorite lipstick, a coordinating gloss, and a clear high shine gloss are necessary.

    Step 2: Do your makeup as usual, but apply the liquid foundation all over your face including your mouth.  This provides a foundation for the lipstick to adhere to and is so much more current than lipliner.

    Step 3: Choose your lipstick of the day.  I am a fan of having a signature shade that people associate me with.  Wear that shade 3-4 days a week so that it becomes (officially) your shade.

    Step 4: Apply your lipstick as you usually do, filling in your entire mouth.

    Step 5: Apply the coordinating gloss over your entire mouth.  The gloss does not need to be made by the same manufacturer of your lipstick, but the colors of the two should coordinate.

    Step 6: Apply the clear high shine gloss only to the very center of your lower lip and to your cupid’s bow (the point at the top of your mouth).  This provides you with shine where you want it, making your lips appear full.

    Step 7: Voila! A perfect pout.

    Step 8: Get out there and show off that sexy mouth, you glamazon you.

    If learning through a video is more your style, just click below. xoxo

    httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vR2Iu2BhKc

  • Current Obsession: Shoe Clips & Grecian Headbands

    It’s official.  I’ve fallen madly in love with everything offered by ban.do.  They are a brand like no other… hair accessories. shoe clips (check it out… genius!). corsages (they totally change a shirt/jacket/purse into something new).  in. love. and. proudly. obsessed.

    check it out… if you have a crafty vixen/glamour girl/vintage fashionista within… you will flip ♥

    shoe clips. obsessed.
    ban.do grecian headband. chic.

  • How To: Make a Display Board

    I was facing a conundrum commonly faced by young accessory laden women… I didn’t know where to put all of my necklaces.  I had the standard jewelry box solution covered… But there were some long, dramatic necklaces that were too pretty to be put away.  And so my jewelry board was born.

    Simply purchase a cork board (I got mine from Michael’s) and paint the wooden trim whatever color tickles your fancy.  I like white.  Then, lay the board down and find some paper with a repeating pattern.  Cover the board with it.  Next, cover the paper with a layer of lace.  To secure the paper and the lace to the cork board, use white thumbtacks.  I also decided to adorn the corner of my board with paper flowers (Martha Stewart makes some great ones).  To create the hooks for my necklaces, I used tiny finishing nails and hammered them into the cork board at a slight upward angle.  Voila! Jewelry on display.