My Makeup Favaorites ~ Part one

Today I bring to you some of my favorite makeup choices, both expensive and drug store brands.  Sometimes it is justified to spend more than normal on a key beauty product!!

Let's start with the eyes.  For the expensive version of mascara, I use Christian Dior, DiorShow.  Hands down the best I have ever tried.  However, as of late I have not been very impressed with this mega label.  It has been a little dry for my taste and doesn't elongate like it used to.  Funny enough, I am not the only person who has mentioned that!

My inexpensive, drug store brand that I have been loving is Luminous by L'Oreal.  It is inexpensive and definitely does the job.  I might be faithful to this one for a while!

How about shadows?  Well, you might have guessed from the many times I have mentioned it, but I truly love me some Eyes Lips Face.  It is truly affordable ($1 people!) and does a great job.

For the more expensive version, I would go with MAC.  Love their products overall, but the shadows are great. Unfortunately, because this is in the more expensive category, I don't own very many... boo.

Now for the lips.  I have been very into wearing bold lips lately.  my absolute favorite is a bright pink by MAC called Show Orchid.  It is beautiful.  I bought it on a recent trip to LA when I was feeling empowered in the London Airport.  I spent the whole flight trying to come up with ways to justify this to the husband and found none.  Then I stopped trying to justify it and just embraced it and it turns out, he didn't say a thing!  Just "oh, that's what you bought in the airport.  I was thinking magazines couldn't have been that expensive."

My less expensive favorite for bold lips is by Maybelline called Very Cherry.  Sometimes I mix this with a e.l.f. color called Posh for a deeper red.

Well, what do you think?  These are just a few, and I will be sure to post a follow up with some other beauty favs of mine.

What are your favorites?  Inexpensive or otherwise.  I am always looking for a new buy, especially in the inexpensive department.  :)  But I still want to hear what you splurge on!

Happy Tuesday!!

Kardashian style Chignon ~ Hair Tutorial

First and foremost, I would LOVE for you to take a minute and visit my friend Amy's Facebook page for her new shop Avery's Loft.  I know all you fellow creatives understand how it can be starting off and I would love it if some MNM readers (that's you guys!) could show her some love.  Go ahead, I'll wait...

Thank you!!  You guys are truly awesome!  You can enter her giveaway here to win a cute pair of boot cuffs for winter.  I can't wait to get my pair!  Make sure you leave a separate entry for each comment!

Now, I am not a big Kim K fan, she kinda pimps herself out too much for me, but she is stylish a lot of the time, and you can catch a cute hair-do in there every once in a while too.  I loved her chignon and I don't know who that is on the right.  Anyone know?

The video I have is kinda a cute video tutorial.  You can wear it to the lower side, like I did in the video, or you can wear it up high kinda Kim Kardashian-ish.  I have worn it both ways and love it.  Get this, the video is less than two minutes.  A hair tutorial in less than two minutes??  Yep!  I hope you enjoy!





It's my first time making a stop-motion video, so I know it isn't perfect. But the cute French song makes up for it, doesn't it?

Happy Monday!!



I will be linking this up to all my linky parties featured here!

What I wore

We are a little under the weather here in our house, so getting dressed and being cute isn't high up on the priority list.  So I am sharing an outfit I had before I left for the states and cut my bangs and flew back two days later.  Yes, I fly internationally to get a haircut.

Fishtail chignon.  Perfect for the holidays!

The weather here in France has been fabulous.  I love it.  I am soaking up what little sun is here because I know in no time winter will be upon us and I'll be freezing.  This wimpy California girl doesn't do well in the super cold.  I guess I gotta go shopping for some comfy sweatshirts and new jeans.  That's a good enough excuse, right?

Well, off to go shopping!!  Happy Tuesday~
{if only life were that cool...}

Jessica Alba Hair Tutorial

Good morning everyone and happy Monday!  I had a MAJOR mom fail last week.  Thursday I slept through the alarm and we totally missed school.  Then to top it off Friday, we got up a little late, but I thought we could still make it... nope.  Got there and the doors were locked.  {in France they lock the doors to the school when class starts}  Tae missed 2 days of school last week because of me.  I felt so bad, I am totally determined to be better this coming week.  

The sad part is that most likely, we're talking high percentage here, that won't be the last time Tae misses school on account of his mom.  Sorry dude, I just can't get my stuff together sometimes!!  

That has got to be frustrating for my husband.

Sweater: France store; Shorts: H&M; tights: Target; Necklace: Lisa Leonard Designs {win one here!}

Here is a fun tutorial though.  I know we have all seen Jessica Alba's beautiful braided do.  I have wanted to try it for some time and here it is!  I left out my bangs because I liked the way it looked on me, but they very easily could have been braided in.

Here is mine with the original.  No comment on the skin tones.  I've been in France too long.

And to top it off I made a little video for you.  I try super duper hard to keep my videos short.  This one is 7 minutes.  Not exactly quick but not so long either.  You can click through it to get the gist.  I hope you like it!

If you follow me on Facebook, I posted some hair pictures to see which was your favorite holiday hairstyle.  I might just do a tutorial for one!  I am surprised, Selna Gomez is beating Lauren Conrad!  
In case you missed it, Lisa Leonard Designs is giving away $50 to her gorgeous shop!!  You still have time to enter, so go check it out!!
Have a great day!
 Linking up to as many Linky parties here as possible!  Go check em out, they're great!

7 Pieces, 7 Outifts ~ Day 3 & 4

You're gonna laugh at the next pictures.  My littles and I were having a good time with it.  I was laughing and dancing and making faces.  I know this probably throws any mysteriousness that bloggers are/try to be out the window, but hey, let's keep it real.  I like to joke around with my boys.

I twisted my bangs and put them to the side.  I still like to mix it up a bit!  And I am wearing the long sweater with argyle tights from Target (you can't really tell they're argyle), and boots that you can't see because my photographer is 4 years old. 

My absolute favorite picture is the one on the right.  Look at his face.  I was using him as a stand and his face is like 'dooooon't move or mom will fall!'  He is so funny.

Then we take it up a notch with the black skirt again, but a little more business-y with a black blazer and white polka dot ruffle shirt.  You could wear this out or two the office, win-win!  And you're welcome, for the awesome over-exposed bathroom shots brought to you, once again, by my four-year-old.

My lovely Lisa Leonard necklace.  Want one? Enter the giveaway by clicking the picture!

I liked these mirror shots.  Are they kinda cool and artsy or totally gross because I need to clean my mirror...

I'm going with cool and artsy.  Sorry all you neat freaks out there.  Momma's got better things to do!

Happy Sunday!

High Poofy Bun ~ Hair Tutorial

Hi everyone!!

Happy Wednesday!  I am actually a bit under the weather and all I want to do is lay in bed and watch all the Twilight movies.  What?  Don't judge.  The movie is out next week and I want to be certain I am up to speed.  Important stuff here.  {I am dragging my husband to Lyon to see it opening night in English 2 DAYS before it opens in America! yesssss!!}

As you might have guessed by now, I am somehow on a personal mission to stop wearing my hair in a boring ponytail or messy bun, although they do both come in handy at times. {you should see me today...}  I want to be creative with my hair.  This tutorial is a high bun with a poof that looks fantastic worn with a headband!  Your hair's still up, but not boring!  I did this video before moving to France and it was on Gina's blog over at Acute Designs.  I thought I would also share it with you.  Hope you like it!

I know the picture doesn't match the tutorial hair, but it is the same hairstyle just with two headbands.  Oh the options!!



If you are interested in more hair tutorials, you can dig through my hair archives here, I have a lot of fun with it and have quite a bit more coming!  You can also always check out my YouTube channel which has all my videos. {including our House Hunter's International 'audition' tape...}
Hope you are having a great day! A demain! (until tomorrow in French)

Half Up Holiday Hair

5 flights, 5 airplanes, 4 cities, 3 countries, 2 days spent in California (& 2 spent traveling) 1 lost bag and 1 tired lady.

I left Thursday morning from France, got into LA Thursday night, went straight to the salon where I got my new bangs! (love you Sue!)  Spent Friday with my mom shopping, hanging out, and doing hair tutorials.  Saturday we filmed all day, got to have lunch with my dad on Wilshire since he was working all weekend.  Shopped at a cute little fabric store and came home to have dinner with my mom, brother, sister-in-law and beautiful niece.  Woke up bright and early Sunday morning, met my parents for coffee at the airport, almost missed my flight and I was off.  Talk about a whirlwind weekend!!  But I loved it, these are the things in life that I will look back on and be glad I did.  

I have a hair tutorial for ya today!  My mom and I were able to bust out like 4 different ones, which was awesome.  I am trying to take into consideration the holidays when doing these hair tutorials, so you can have ideas for you dinner parties etc.  

This one is a simple half up or you can continue it and have it be a kinda twisted waterfall.  That sounds bad, like the waterfall is messed up or something.  Hopefully, after you see the pics and watch the video you'll see what I mean...

And what do you think of my new haircut?  Do I look 12 years old?

I love my stylist, too, she is fan-stinkin-tastic.  Here's the video, enjoy!

I hope your weekend was great.  I am linking this up to my linky parties here.  
Don't forget to enter The Sunshine Stitch giveaway!  $25 to her shop!!
Happy Tuesday!

1 Item 2 Ways ~ & a Giveaway!!

We all wish our closets were fuller than they are.  But when we get creative and learn to wear the things we DO have, it's like we have a Mary Poppins closet -- it just keeps giving!
As you have probably already noticed, I like to come up with challenges that help me work with the items that I already have in my closet.  Take this cowl, for instance...   You have already seen it here and I just can't seem to get enough of it lately.  I thought I would show you a couple ways it can be worn and how I chose to pair it.

First we have classy-Devil-Wears-Prada-ish chic work outfit.  Like, I run my own fashion magazine kinda outfit.  I look like that, don't I?  Ya, Thanks. :)  Please excuse the cell phone pics, I just got home from over 24 hours of traveling and straight from the airport to the salon for my new haircut. Hey, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. 

Then I went with a more casual feeling.  Throwing some torn jeans and boots with a cute sweater I'm ready for a shopping trip downtown.  I love the casual feel of this one and I LOVE how this cowl works both ways.  Oh and did I mention that it's a hooded cowl?  Just throw that baby over your head and you gotta... hooded cowl. You get the idea.  {we're keeping in mind lack of sleep when reading this, right? Thank you.}

All warm and fuzzy waiting for my first Starbucks since leaving for France.  Cowl and a Starbucks?  That sounds like the perfect fall combination to me!

Want one yet?  I thought so!  And Alysha of The Sunshine Stitch wants one of you lucky readers to have $25 to her shop!!  Can't wait to see who wins?  Well, she is also offering my readers 20% off anything in the shop using coupon code MANOUVELLEMODE.  All you have to do is:

1.) Be a follower of Ma Nouvelle Mode {mandatory}

2.) 'Like' The Sunshine Stitch on Facebook

3.) Share this giveaway via Twitter, Facebook, or blog!

Feel free to use this tweet:

"I would love to win @thetarrpit giveaway over @natalialsimmons blog! $25 to her shop! http://bit.ly/uZEDBu"

Good Luck! 
Oh and I am choosing a winner for Smokey Eye kit in the morning, last chance to enter!

Rachel McAdams Double Braided Headband

As you're reading this, I am flying over the ocean back to California for the weekend.  Because I'm a balla like that.  Not really, but it makes me feel cool to say that.  I can't tell you just yet why I am going to Cali, unless you already know, then that's fine. If you don't, stay tuned, it's kinda fun!!

Today I have a tutorial that resembles Rachel McAdams double braided headband that you may or may not have seen floating around the internet.  It is super easy, but simple and beautiful, so I gave it a whirl!  Here is the inspiration:

And here is mine:

 I know this next picture is totally overexposed, but I thought it looked cool.  So you got to see it.  You're welcome.

 The red lips and makeup are from the e.l.f. makeup tutorial.  Love me some red lips now-a-days!  Also love this hairdo.

Mines kinda messy because I did it using the webcam as a mirror and let's just say, it's not the same.  Here is the video tutorial, I hope you like it!!

{Warning: country music ahead. Just in case you don't like it, push mute now!}

Go enter the Smokey Eye Kit Giveaway from yesterday!  It's super easy to enter, just follow here!  Winner announced Friday!  That's lots of !! I must be excited about it... haha

Now off to sleep in my comfy hotel bed.  It's so big, makes me miss my hubby for a sec.  Then I remember, alone time, and I'm good.
Happy Thursday!