CALLING ALL MILITARY BRIDES!

Check it out~ Fabulous vendors are teaming up to giveaway a wedding! Find out all the details on Bayside Bride! We are thrilled to be a part of this spectacular giveaway! 

May 21- Susanne

I sat in what was supposed to be my easy college course and had to take to get a science credit for graduation ~ Nutrition. How hard can fruits and vegetables be? Yeah right it was the hardest class of my business major. The sweet gal with gorgeous blonde locks sitting next to me is my new favorite study partner. If I wasn't such an honest person, I would have cheated off of her tests (she's that awesome). She also gave me insight as to how bad the delicious bread at Macaroni Grill is. Fast forward 7 years and guess who emails me? SUSANNE and she is getting married to the love of her life who she was dating when we were talking about LDL cholesterol levels. I was so thrilled that I could share her wedding day with her. I was a part of her sister in law's wedding several years prior so it was great to see Amanda too! 

Danielle and I spent the day of Rapture (5.21.11) at the Gramercy Mansion with Susanne and her fabulous girls. Susanne did a fantastic job at personalizing her wedding. The details were phenomenal. We loved seeing Chad from Lippiatt Photography. He really captured Susanne's stunning details! 

 L.O.V.E this hairstyle! 

February 26 ~ Ashley

Mindy spent the afternoon downtown Baltimore with Ashley and her girls. We love how her veil sits properly at the top of her crown. It shows she is still a bride without screaming tulle! Big thanks to Bradley Images for capturing our hairstyle!

Bikes for Boobs Calendar Photoshoot! Sneak Peek!

Lindsay, Christine & Sara had the pleasure of helping out at the Bikes for Boobs Calender shoot! Stan Freedman Photography made the shots look amazing!

Having fun with all the beautiful bikes!

These girls were all smiles, depsite the terrible heat and humidity!

Sara & Christine

Hard at work

November 20 ~ Amber

Mindy and Danielle helped Amber and her super sweet bridal party get ready for the gorgeous ceremony and celebration at the Newton White Mansion. We met Amber through her sister Shayna! We love working with the same families over and over :)

Amber was original and Mindy's creation was unique....Pippa totally stole her style :) We <3 Amber's hair!

December 4th ~ McKenzie

We love to hear from our past brides. Emails and pictures are flowing in from our 2010 brides. If you were a recent bride, feel free to drop us a line and send us some of your pro pics. We will love to add them to our portfolio!

We love love love McKenzie's soft winter hairstyle. Scroll below to see what she had to say about us!

I was thrilled to have found Up Dos For I Dos for our wedding. Our location was a little out of the way, and I didn't want to have to go out to a salon on the morning of the big day, so it really took the stress out of the day having hair and makeup come to us. From the very start, Ashley was wonderful and incredibly responsive, answering all of my questions so quickly.  Mindy and Danielle were absolutely fabulous - arriving right on time, and getting through hair and makeup in plenty of time. As the bride they were able to take what we did during the dry run and nailed it perfectly on the day of!  In addition, Mindy and Danielle were able to make both my sisters happy and beautiful, despite the fact that neither sister knew exactly what she wanted at the start of the day. Everyone's hair and makeup held up throughout the whole day, pictures, ceremony through to the after party. I would recommend Up Dos to anyone looking for a stress-free, beautiful day!

Thanks again Ashley!

-McKenzie

Sneak Peek ~ Boudoir Body Painting

  Sneak peek on what we are working on with Balance Boudoir....a few behind the scenes shots! More to come :) 

Brittany touching up the sand. 

Adjusting the sun! 

Take your baby to work day! 

Fabulous End Result! Yep~ That really is a bathing suit hand painted on.

Balance Photography, Make-Up by our very own Up-Do's Artist Beth, Hair by Up-Do's Hair Stylist Ashley and Body Painted Swimsuit by Shay (Kim Reyes)

Rave Review - Tarte Light Camera Lashes Mascara

I WAS addicted to Bare Escentuals Volumizing Mascara because of the brush and the thicker formula. I like thicker, longer lashes, who doesn't? But, my biggest drawback to the B.E. mascara is that it doesn't come in a waterproof formula, not good for summer. Another thing about the B.E. mascara that I haven't been in love with is it tends to get clumpy. 

I received the non-waterproof formula Lights, Camera, Lashes, in a sample size. I loved the brush. My lashes were soft, didn't flake, and they looked super long and lush.

I have also tried the waterproof formula, Lights, Camera, Splashes, and felt the same look/feel was achieved. Tarte has really outdone themselves with this mascara! Give it a try, you will not regret it.

Check out the before and after photo

~ Sara

Rave Review - Boscia Luminizing Black Mask

Besides looking like you stuck your face in a bucket of tar, the experience was enjoyable. It tightened and felt like a "cooling" sensation. Taking it off was a little difficult, only because I didn't follow instructions. If I would've made the mask thick all around the edges, it'd be easier to peel. So, I improvised by scrunching my face and peeling from the middle out towards the edges. In the thinner areas I just washed off with water.

This is me, during the drying process...

When the mask came off, I was amazed when I took a close look at my skin. Almost all the black heads were gone (none that I could see), my skin was soft, almost like it was glowing. I have ultra sensitive skin and I loved this mask. I didn't have the blackheads re-appear for almost TWO WEEKS!! I give this my stamp of approval and I bought the mask to continue using.

I would recommend that if you have troubled (dry, oily or acne prone skin) to use the mask once a week. Go to Sephora and ask for a sample today! It's an awesome product and all Boscia products are all natural. Check out Boscia Luminizing Black Mask

~Sara

Rave Review - Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eyeshadow Pencil

I just want to say, I LOVE this product! Not many products have a 5 star rating on Sephora.com nor do they do EXACTLY what the description says it will.

I've been using the color Midnight Cowboy (how can you say no to that name?) for over a month now. I'm halfway through the stick and I can honestly say I will definitely buy it again. Not only is it super easy to use, I love the colors, all twelve of them are highly pigmented. Great for those who are on the go and  need their make up to stay all day and night. Even when I use my eye make up remover it's still somewhat stubborn but comes off.

After you apply the product it's easily smudged to your desired look (brush or finger, q-tips seem to dry them and it doesn't blend as easy), but when it dries it's smudge proof, waterproof, crease proof and I think it's fool proof.  It's a rich, creamy, semi-shimmer...I'd say luminous, finish. If you like a color, but think it looks too bright, it's easily blended out to give it a lighter look. I'd recommend the eyeshadow pencil for any age, young to mature skin. The shadow pencil is only 20.00 and if you don't love it, take it back. Everything at Sephora is returnable receipt or no receipt.

I also have the color mercury ( a gunmetal gray), which I also love...great to swipe across the lid for a quick, thicker eyeliner look.

The 24/7 pencil comes in an eyeliner also, I have not tried it but next order I will.


Give it a try! You will not be disappointed!

~Sara

Working Brides!!!

Working Brides has an offer just for you! If you have perfectly planned your Summer 2011 wedding yet realize now that you can not actually oversee all the day’s intricate details, Working Brides is giving a $250 credit to you on the “Brilliant Bride” Day Of package!! www.workingbrides.com Special Ends September 15th!!! 

Say "I Do!" to a beautiful, quick & easy eyes!

While doing my hair in the morning, all I ever think about is what colors will I put on my eyes! Doesn't matter what color I'm wearing that day (I'm not into matching) I always have this struggle. After much deliberation, I always gravitate towards my "go-to" eye colors.

-Find out what colors you like the best on you. I like about anything, so just finding the right shade of each color does fine for me, which I think applies to anyone! My favorites are yellows, golds, browns and charcoals. ( I have a warm skin tone and brown eyes.)

- What do you prefer? Darker colors in the crease, darker colors fading into lighter. This is a matter of personal preference. Google Natural Eye Make Up to see some examples

- Well groomed brows will always make the look a lot cleaner and more appealing.

- Choose a highlighter color (brow highlight) that's lighter, but matches the skin tone  This will compliment your eyes the best.  (I am a warm skin tone, so I wear a very light gold, like Queen Phyllis . Another favorite is Nude Beach. These two colors look good on 99% of women. To apply these kinds of colors, I love a good tapered brush. Try, Sephora's Natural Small Eyeshadow Brush.

-Use a good crease or blending brush for your crease and this also helps achieve a quick, natural looking "fade" or blending of the colors. Less is more and until you get the hang of it, take your time.  I like this brush from Sephora!

-Two Color Wonder - Take the brush directly underneath the brow and work it all the way down to the lash line. Apply a darker color in your crease for a great, quick, easy look. Using your blending brush will make it look like you have a great fading and/or natural effect. For a beautiful crease color, try Naked Lunch.

-For beginners and those who want it easy: Try Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Pencil . I love Midnight Cowboy(this is an everyday product for me!) Sin and Rehab. All are great every day colors. Super easy to blend just with your finger or with the pencil. These seriously stay on all day and won't budge, smudge or crease after put on. I love to use Midnight Cowboy as a liner underneath the eye and on the inner corner for an extra bright look.

-Want that super smudged eyeliner look with out being too heavy? Try a powder, mineral liner like Bon Bon Liner Shadow or Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner and use a Smudging Brush. To achieve that very natural eyeliner look. CAUTION: when using a liner shadow, apply first with an eyeliner brush then smudge out! This brush picks up a ton of shadow. The dome shape gives the most beautiful effect, without being too heavy.

-Uneasy about picking out some colors for an everyday? Try NAKED - the uber-natural palette. For $48.00 you get twelve full sized shadows. I love Kat Von D True Romance Palette . Awesome everyday the greens and browns go well with any skin tone. You get eight full sized shadows for $34.00. Going for all natural? Try Tarte Nuetral EYES . Ten great all natural, nuetral eye colors for only $44.00.

-Don't forget primer! If your shadows crease throughout the day or if you tend to have "disappearing" eye shadow. Primer is essential! My favorite primers formula was changed, but I hear great things about Benefit Don't Stray  or Smashbox Photo Ready Eye Primer. (Have a sample, I will report soon!)

-Mascara is a must! No questions asked, just put it on! I have a few favorites, Voluminous Carbon Black Drugstore Pick . Love the brush and the formula is great. Pro Pick is Sephora Atomic Lash. Super thick formula, which I love and conditioning to the lashes. What do I carry in my bag? Flawless Definition Volumizing, Mineral Based, Conditioning Mascara. Why I love it: The formula conditions lashes, I hardly ever lose any when I wash it off every night and I swear they have gotten longer in the past year. Probably because they are no longer breaking! Lashes are hair, they do break, become brittle and thin.

-Practice, it takes time. You'll eventually achieve what you're looking for!

What are my personal go to colors?
-Queen Phyllis (brow highlight)
-Fire Opal (blended above crease, limited color, you may be able to find it on ebay.)
-Butterfly (Lid color)
-Faux Fox (crease color)
I may use four colors, but I have a lot of lid space!
-Bon Bon (for liner)
All Bare Escentuals mineral shadows. ( I do reference them often, I used to work for them! By far my favorite shadows.)   
 Here's my look with those shadows :

I hope this helps with your everyday look! Don't be shy! Shoot us an email anytime with questions!

~Sara