Get Healthy!...Because Beauty Starts on the Inside.

What an adventurous weekend I had! *More details at the end of this blog...

This past Saturday I had the privilege of attending (for the second time) a "Let's Get Healthy" seminar as hosted by my dear friends Rick & Renee Shaull who pastor Mount Hope Church in St. Johns, MI. 

I have always been a health nut, however, my dear friends have shared 'many' valuable ideas and resources  with me over the years that have helped shape me into a healthier individual. With that being said, I *aspire* to *inspire* you to be healthier too! Let's get healthy together, live long, and celebrate life together!

Many of the things I will be sharing today I have learned over the past two years at "Let's Get Healthy" seminars; However, a lot I have been doing for years on my own out of sheer good habit. I am going to try & cover some serious ground tonight. Ready? Let's Begin! 

Let's Get Healthy! 

Vitamins & Minerals 

I cannot say enough about the importance of vitamins and minerals! I have felt an overall 'boost' in my health & well being since I began taking them a few years back. A multivitamin is essential for all women. I recommend the "Eve" multivitamin by Now. It is highly potent and is full of things that your body is lacking- selenium being an important one! Our soil is deficient in selenium BIG TIME. 

Omega 3 is another crucial supplement that our bodies are craving. Most likely we are not consuming enough of this on a weekly basis in our own efforts. That's why I recommend an omega 3 soft gel 'or' straight up fish oil (if you can handle it). Just make sure you are buying fish oil that is 'Molecularly Distilled' (as noted on the front of the bottle). Another excellent source of Omega 3 is flaxseed! Yum. I love ground flax seed on my cereal in the morning or in a fresh batch of homemade muffins! Flaxseed also contains lignans which are a natural antioxidant. In order to get the health benefits that are in just two tablespoons of flaxseed, you would need to eat 30 cups of fresh broccoli! -That information was found on the side of my Bob's Red Mill Flax Seed bag. Amazing huh?

Vitamin C is something that we also can never seem to get enough of on our own. And in the winter months when cold & flu are prevalent, it's even MORE important. I recommend trying Emergen-C. Mixed in with just one glass of water, you will receive an outstanding 1,000 mg of Vitamin C! Can't beat that. :) 

Eat the Rainbow! 

Remember the Skittles ads "Taste the Rainbow?" The same concept can be applied to our eating habits! Think of it this way- God gave us (naturally) TONS of beautifully colored fruits, vegetables, and grains that when lined up next to each other create a rainbow with an array of colors! 

Plan your meals like your eating a rainbow. Add a little 'color' to each meal and you'll be in good shape. Ben and I LOVE to eat beans, especially in the winter months. Try a hearty chili, stew, or soup full of kidney, northern, lentil, chickpea, or pinto beans (just to name a few)! Think of how much color there is in beans alone. If you're looking for a good Lentil Soup, click here to try my favorite recipe!


Meal and Snack Ideas 


You didn't think I was going to load you with all that information and then just leave you stranded did you? ;) Not my style. Here are a few great meal and snack ideas for families or individuals on the run!

Breakfast:

• Protein Shakes: (GNC) Chocolate Protein Powder is delicious, makes good smoothies, and really amps up your daily protein intake. 
• Fruit/Yogurt Smoothies: One of my personal favorites is to take 1/2 cup frozen or fresh blueberries, 1/2 cup plain yogurt, 1/2 cup Trop50 (naturally low-calorie) orange juice, and 1 banana and blend it up! Delicious, healthy, and quick. 
• Kashi cereal topped with ground flax seed: Heap on two tablespoons!

Lunch:

My lunch this afternoon! Yum.

• Wrap it: I like to eat a whole wheat wrap with hummus, tomato, spinach, red onion, and cucumber. DELISH! Sooo good. Just buy some fresh produce in the beginning of the week and have it all cut up & ready to go for weekly lunches. 
• Guacamole & tortilla chips: Thanks to my good friend Diane who got me eating guacamole, I'm now an addict! Totally delicious. The brand 'Wholly Guacamole' even sells 100 calorie packages!

Dinner:

• Use your CrockPot! If you're busy, it's your best weapon. Throw in a whole chicken (with loads of veggies), chili, or soup and let it simmer! 
• Get creative with pasta: One thing I LOVE about Italian cooking is that it is so simple yet complex in taste! You can really work wonders with pasta, vegetables, and meat. This evening I whipped up (entirely on my own) a delicious Italian dish that Ben and I both loved. I am debuting the recipe here for you all tonight! *See the bottom of this blog.

Snacks:

• Carrots & Hummus: What on earth would I do without my hummus? It is literally a staple in my diet! I have a fabulous homemade recipe that I will be sharing with all of you soon. ;) 
• Apples & Peanut Butter: My friend Caryn recently reminded me how stinking delicious this is! I can't stop eating it. What a great way to down an whole apple while dipping it in savory peanut butter. *A note about peanut butter::: Buy natural!! Normal peanut butter has hydrogenated oils in it. Can we say two steps away from being a plastic? Yeah, it's gross. PLEASE buy natural. Jiff has a natural version but they do add sugar to it. There are other brands that add 'no' sugar- those are the best. 

As promised, here is the recipe I made this evening for din din:

Italian Yummy (It's the best title I could muster up) 

Finished Product! 

Ingredients:

• Baby cherry tomatoes (about 12 cut in half)  
• 1 cup Fresh baby spinach 
• 1 regular can of chickpeas (garbanzo beans) 
• 1 clove of garlic (minced) 
• 2 tablespoons of butter 
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil 
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice 
• 1 (14.5 oz) box of pasta 
• Grated parmesan cheese 

1. Heat butter, oil, and lemon juice in skillet and add garlic. Sautee until it starts smelling yummy. 
2. Add tomatoes and cook for about 5 minutes.
3. Add chickpeas and fresh spinach then cover for about 5 more minutes (or less).
4. Dump entire box of 'cooked' pasta into a big bowl along with all the ingredients in the Sautee pan.
5. Mix together well and add about two tablespoons of the parmesan cheese to the mixture. 
6. Plate, top with more parmesan cheese, and DONE. 

This is seriously delicious. I hope you like it as well as we did! 

I love you all. Thank you for reading! It is my desire that you will see the need for ALL of us to get healthy together. :) It's important to take care of our bodies and then let God do the rest. He is faithful. 

If you haven't signed up yet for the incredible Bee's Knees Valentines Giveaway please do so by clicking here.

A little more about my weekend...

Ben and I had the privilege of staying a night at a gorgeous little cabin not far from us. It was relaxing and awesome to just get away and spend some time together. Don't we all need that from time to time? 

Here is a picture of the fire we enjoyed. It really was a picture perfect weekend as it snowed nearly the whole time! See you all back here on Wednesday!!

Just wingin' it...

The dramatic winged eye.

You can't open a single beauty magazine without seeing it, it's all over the runway, and it's absolutely stunning. However, half of us are scared to try it. Have no fear! The Bee's Knees is to the rescue! 

Today we are going to have fun playing with a dazzling & electric winged eye that is sure to leave you with some 'wow' factor. Bada boom - bada bing! 

I was working out and reading a magazine this morning at the YMCA and was totally inspired by this look:

Don't you just love it? It's like a party on your face. ;) There are a few 'rules' you must know when creating this look:

1. Go bright or go home 
2. Waterproof or bust 
3. Use the right tools 

I 'experimented' today with some colors and liners that I had and I was surprised at how similar the end product was in comparison the the picture above. This look is not that difficult, it just takes a steady hand and an adventurous spirit! Ready? Let's get started:

Electric Winged Eye:

First I primed my eye and then covered it lid to brow with a light blue color. I then added some gold to the inner eye area for a beautiful effect.

I love my Sephora jumbo waterproof liner but the tip is too large to create a precise line so I used a liner brush and dabbed the jumbo liner onto the tip of the brush and applied it that way. I started by outlining the shaped I wanted onto the eye and then proceeded to fill it in completely and heavily (giving it a really bright blue tone). Here's a peek at the colors and small liner tool used to achieve the look:

After shaping the line how I wanted it, I went over the entire thing in a 'very' similar blue Mary Kay color I have in their Costal colors palette. Covering the liner with an eyeshadow ensures that it will stay ALL day long. It 'sets' the liner in place so to speak. Here is what the finished line looks like: 

To complete the look, simply add mascara and fill in your brows. That wasn't too difficult was it? Now it's your turn to try it! Be daring and try something fun tonight- after all, it's Friday! Here is a peek at the entirely finished look:

One more thing....

I was so excited about this deal that I just had to share it with everyone. Today I got this (regularly $50) sweater at JcPenny for only $8.00!!! That is good shopping! :) These oversized sweaters are PERFECT for leggings and a cute infinity scarf. Try the look! 

Love you all. Have an awesome weekend.

Out and about earlier this evening. 

Prisma Chrome Eyeshadow Review & How To...

I just love you guys. Yes you- the ones reading this. Thank you so much for all of your kind words and encouragement lately. :)

As most of you know, the Bee's Knees Valentines giveaway is in full swing and there is still time to register (See the Valentines Giveaway post for details)! SO- if you know someone who would like to enroll or maybe just someone else who loves beauty, fashion, cooking, and so on, tell them about the Bee's Knees! Exciting things are happening here. You never know what I might post. ;)

I had a very enjoyable weekend that I realize I haven't told you about yet. This past Saturday I had a Philosophy enzyme mask appointment at Sephora and it was wonderful (and free!). Just for attending the event I received several deluxe samples in a cute bag. I love Philosophy skin care products and I'm becoming more of a believer every day. The 'Miracle Worker' eye cream is fabulous as well as the mask I tried on Saturday which you can view by clicking here. The mask left my skin feeling fresh, moisturized, and renewed.

In other beauty news:::
For my sister's birthday this month I bought her Sephora's new Prisma Chrome Eyeshadow in 'Shimmering Sand' as one of her gifts. I mailed it to her in the beginning of the month and she told me she LOVES it. Well, naturally I had to buy one to review for all of you, so here we go!...

Prisma Chrome Eyeshadow 'Shimmering Sand' & How To:


The following is a step-by-step basic eye look that works great with this new shadow by Sephora.

First we always start by priming the lid and covering it entirely with a base color that is preferably neutral. Next you will take a contour brush and wet the tip. This eyeshadow is special because it gets its highly-pigmented color when it's wet! Pretty cool.

So, you will take your wet brush and swirl it around in the eyeshadow. You will notice it starts to form a 'pasty' consistency- that's good. Once you have a good amount worked into the brush, simply stroke it all over your lid- top to bottom.

The color tone of this picture is a little odd.. sorry.

See how pretty and colorful it is?! :) This particular color works great all over the lid because it is fairly light. They have other colors that are brighter and fun. I really want to try some of those as well.

Next I added some purple to the crease of the eye and worked it out to the edges of my eye to create a winged look.

 

After you add the purple in the crease, take a purple eyeliner and line underneath your eye. Then take black liquid liner and line the top.

All that's left is your mascara! Two coats for the top & bottom and you're good to go and looking spectacular!

Bottom line- Prisma Chrome eyeshadow is the Bee's Knees!

As always, thank you for reading!! I will see you all back here on Friday for another fun and exciting adventure in blogging. ;) Tell a friend...

Valentines Giveaway!

The Bee's Knees Valentines Giveaway!

Who likes free stuff!? Don't we all?

This Valentines Day, the Bee's Knees is hosting it's very first (of many to come) giveaway! One lucky reader/subscriber will score a bag of goodies just in time for Valentines to have you dazzling for your special night out. *If you don't have a 'significant other' then just go out with your girlfriends (this can be just as fun)!  ;)

I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to give away a few of the items we've reviewed together and let you try them for yourself. I am not finished 'compiling' all of the items up for grabs just yet, but I can give you a good idea of what to expect thus far! -The rest is a surprise.  

Be thinking- Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Strips, Makeup brushes, Urban Decay Eye Primer, Say Yes to Carrots- Tinted Lip Gloss, Aveda Control Force Hair Spray, Travel Bag, and more!  

If YOU would like to enter the Bee's Knees Valentines Giveaway simply follow the steps below:

1. 'Like' the Bee's Knees Facebook Page 
2. Send your full name, address and phone # to: thebeesknees.melissa@gmail.com 

The winner will be randomly selected & contacted via email on Friday, February 3 and will be announced publicly at The Bee's Knees and on Facebook Monday, February 6. 

This is my way of sending the 'love' to one lucky reader this Valentines Day! I only wish I could send you ALL something special. Thank you so much for reading and for your support thus far. And good luck in the Valentines Giveaway! 

*I will be back here on Wednesday with a special blog on new beauty items! Don't miss it. 

A sneak peek at some 'Giveaway' items.  :)

Adventures in Reupholstering! & New Heirloom

Hello Friends! Who's glad it's Friday? I know I am so ready for this weekend; primarily because I get to make plans for Monday's blog which will include all the details for the Bee's Knees first Valentines giveaway! Yes, all that excitement will be brewing over the weekend, so stay tuned for all the details Monday. :)

I have had a very busy morning. It is going on 2:00 and I still have a ton to do before 5 (the start of girls night!) so we had better just get down to business today!

I have something very special for you that I told you we were going to cover eventually- a guide to reupholstering (my style)! :) This is my first time EVER reupholstering 'anything' and I'm proud to say it went quite well. As I mentioned last week, I have had this makeup vanity since I was probably 13 or 14 years old, but it needed a little 'makeover' if you will. So without further delay I give you- the Bee's Knees adventures in reupholstering!


Reupholstering a Vanity Stool


The first thing you will want to do is find your materials that you will be using to reupholster. I chose to go with this pretty patterned furniture fabric from Joann Fabrics. I wanted to make it extra girly so I threw in some scalloping ribbon and furniture nails.

Here is another image of the furniture nails. Aren't they too cute? I just love the design 

Here is what the stool looked like before the project:

First I started by removing all of the staples on the underside of the stool holding down the old material. This was probably the most time consuming task but I found that they came right out with flat-head screwdriver. Next I had to take out each one of the old upholstery nails on the front of the stool holding down the white lace ribbon- these also came right out with the screw driver.

I was able to reuse the padding for the seat since it was in good condition (my parents were the last ones to reupholster this) so I left that on. 

Here is what the bench looked like bare:

(My mother-in-law bought me the pink tool set) :)

Once the fabric was removed, I simply laid out the old fabric on the back side of the new fabric and traced a line around the entire thing to make sure the new fabric was going to be the correct size.

Once I cut out the fabric I laid it over the stool seat and then flipped the sear upside down in order to begin stapling. I recommend pulling the fabric 'tight' with each staple to ensure that it won't budge later on. Staple guns can be found at any home improvement store along with the furniture nails. Once I stapled the entire piece of material to the seat I went back around and hammered each staple in to make sure that once again, they won't be going anywhere! 

Finally, I went around the entire outside of the stool with the scalloping ribbon and decorative furniture nails every three inches and here is what the final product looks like (a huge improvement!):

I hope that you will feel encouraged to take on that reupholstering project around 'your' home that you've been wanting to accomplish! I have said this before but I'll say it again- if I can do it, anybody can learn!

The last thing I wanted to share with you all is a picture of a very special heirloom that was passed down to me last week. Below is a picture of my great grandmothers telephone desk (from a long time ago!).

I was happy to welcome it into our home and I even found the perfect place for it. Thank you again Mom & Dad! 

I hope everyone has an enjoyable and relaxing weekend. Please check back Monday for details on how to enter the Bee's Knees Valentines giveaway! Love you all...

Girls Night Out Eyes!

Ok girls- we need one another, bottom line. Isn't this true?

What would we do without the other 'precious' women in our lives (older & younger) with whom we share our stories, thoughts, and insight? I am so grateful for all of my 'girls' and count them as blessings! The Bible frequently speaks of the older women mentoring the younger women (See Titus 2:3-6) and I am exceedingly grateful for all of you girls, whether young or old, who pour into my life. Thank you!

I have a girls night coming up this Friday that I am really looking forward to. Only it's more of a 'girls night in' as we will be watching a movie and eating. You can't have a girls night without eating, it's just wrong. Can I get an amen?

With that being said, go and get your 'girls night' on!  ;) Here is a pretty eye look that is sure to leave you dazzling for your special night out! 

Girls Night Out Eyes! 

Ok, so as is normal with almost everything we do around here, we will take this eye look step by step to ensure that you can re-create it too! Ready?

Step One: Base Color 

Simply apply a light blue color all over your lid- lash to brow. 

(Remember to PRIME your eyes before anything!!)

Step Two: Line Crease

I LOVE this liner! It is Sephora's Jumbo Waterproof

eyeliner in Turquoise. Click here to buy it.

All you need to do is line the crease of your eye 

with this eyeliner. You will be amazed at how 

much definition this adds to the look we're going to achieve.

Step Three: Line Crease with Blue Shadow 

Next you will color over your crease with a pretty 

dark blue shadow. This really gives a two dimensional 

look to the liner underneath- and it won't budge all day! 

Step Four: Add Copper to Lid

Now you will add some copper color to your 

lid. In case you were wondering, the colors I 

am using are by Lorac (also found at Sephora). 

I swear by Lorac. I love the pigment in all of their

Shadows. You might want to try 'patting' it on your lid.

Patting in a color will cause less mess underneath your eye.

Step Five: Line Under & Over 

Next you will line above your eye with black liquid liner 

and below the eye with a brown cream or pencil liner.

I know some of you just cringed at the words 'liquid liner' 

and I have to be honest, there's no easy way to learn how 

to use it other than practice. It took me a little while but I have 

now been using liquid for many years and I love it. It really 

creates a dramatic effect. I absolutely LOVE Revlon's Color Stay 

Liquid Eyeliner (click to view the liner). It works wonders and it's cheap! 

Finally: Brows and Mascara

The last 2 things you will need are filled-in brows 

and as usual- two coats of mascara. You're Done!

And no, I am not wearing fake lashes. BUT- we will 

be going over how to apply fake lashes in a future blog.

Are you excited to try your Girls Night Out eyes?! I hope so. Please feel free to send me YOUR beautiful eye pictures at: thebeesknees.melissa@gmail.com. I would love to see what you all come up with! Have a wonderful day everyone and I will see you back here on Friday! :)

Birchbox... (aka) Christmas every month!

What an exciting week it's been already! The Bee's Knees now has it's own Facebook page up and running (Yippie!) AND I received the exciting news that Ben and I will be enjoying a little mini-vacation coming up in February. I will be travelling with him on a business trip to Harrisburg, PA and then we will be taking a few days for 'ourselves' to enjoy the sights in Washington DC.   :)  Oh- and guess what? You are all coming with me! That's right. We will be taking our very first road trip together and you'd better believe I will be blogging all the way.

Well, I am about to make some of you VERY happy today as we talk about the 'monthly-box-that-rocks' - Birchbox. Many of you may already know of this joyous little package but for those who have not yet heard- listen up!

If you enjoy sampling new products before buying them full size and want to stay up-to-date with all of the latest in beauty, then Birchbox is for you (they should be paying me to sell...ha)! This adorable little pink box comes as a monthly subscription (just like a magazine) right to your door step. I have thoroughly enjoyed receiving it each month and try to 'share the love' with all of my friends whenever I can.

There are two different ways to enroll with Birchbox. You can choose the option to have $10 drafted each month from your account or you can pay an annual amount and receive one month free. The nice thing is that you can cancel at anytime. You are not 'locked' in to an entire year unless you choose to go the route of the annual subscription. Pretty cool, huh?

Each month I will review my Birchbox by blogging about the contents so that 'you' can stay up-to-date with all the latest, regardless of whether or not you choose to subscribe.


January's Birchbox Contents: 

• Juicy Couture by Juicy perfume: Yum! I absolutely LOVE this scent. It's perfect for day or night and it is Juicy's signature fragrance. 

• Treat & Conceal by Miracle Skin Transformer: This is a fabulous concealer that helps to nourish your skin while concealing it at the same time! I have used it a few times under my eyes and I really enjoy it. If you have any dark spots or blemishes that need to be covered, it works wonders. 

• Re-Everything: Eye Serum by VMV Hypoallergenics: Ok sensitive skin readers- this one is for you! This sensitive but powerful eye serum absorbs quickly into the skin. I personally enjoy using it at night to allow my skin to renew itself by morning. 

• 'Megan' Nail Polish by Zoya: I LOVE, love, love, this nail polish! I am actually wearing it in this picture but the lighting is not the greatest (sorry). It is a pastel purple and it goes on just lovely. It's also very shiny and wears wonderfully! I am going on day five wearing this polish with NO top coat and I don't even have a single chip in my nails. Crazy. I highly recommend Zoya nail colors. They are only $8 for a full size. 

I also received a little sample of granola in January's Birchbox along with a cute little magnet. When you open up the box it looks like this: 

To me it's like opening up a birthday gift every month! If you would like to sign up for Birchbox, just click the following link: Birchbox.

Well, that's about it for me tonight. I still have a lot to do around the house as one of Ben's good friends is coming in to visit this weekend. I will see you all here tomorrow! Get ready for an exciting blog. Love you all...

'Homemade' Hair Conditioning Treatment

Happy Friday the 13th Friends! ---*cue creepy music... ;)

Well, winter has officially arrived in Michigan as we woke up to a few inches of white puffy stuff. It's all fun & games until you realize that you have to shovel it. :/ Oh, what am I complaining about? I have like 10 whole feet to shovel. My parents on the other hand have like, oh you know- a billion feet to shovel.

So, it's winter and most of us will suffer at some point with dry skin. This time of year can also be extremely ruthless on our hair especially if we're blowdrying/curling/straightening it. Yikes! Isn't it time you gave your hair some TLC? I have the perfect treatment for you today that will leave your hair feeling like a million bucks.

We brought that Olive Oil back from Italy! :)

Homemade Hair Conditioning Treatment: 



What you will need:

1. 3/4 cup Olive Oil 
2. 1/2 cup Honey 
3. Juice of 1 Lemon 

• Whisk all three ingredients together well. This may take a few minutes to thicken up. 
• Pour into a jar or other storage container as you will have quite a bit left over for more treatments. *You will need to store this in the fridge once you are done using it.
• Dampen hair under faucet and towel dry 
• Work a good amount of conditioner into hair by brushing it through with a comb.
• Cover head with plastic wrap or a plastic bag and let the conditioner sit for 30 minutes. 
• Rinse well with shampoo and conditioner and then style as normal! 

You will love how soft and beautiful this leaves your hair! 

The best part is- it's all natural.  I hope you enjoy! 

In other news: My awesome parents recently blessed me and gave me my childhood makeup armoire (I have used this since I was probably 13 or 14)! It now resides in the McBride home and it's getting ready to receive a little 'makeover'. I am going to be reupholstering the bench seat and replacing the drawer knobs, and yes- that will be a blog of it's own! This is an antique and very special to me. When my parents delivered it to our home they found a date on one of the inside drawers dating to the 1920's. :) Some man handcrafted this himself, isn't that just the bee's knees?  Stay tuned for all the excitement, and thank you for reading! 

Birth-Right 'Lentil Soup'

-Because it's so good you just might sell your birthright to get some!

Does anyone reading this have any idea what I'm talking about?

I just finished reading the story of Jacob & Esau today in my daily Bible reading. In the story, the two brothers are POLAR opposites. Jacob is a 'stay-inside' mommy's boy who likes to cook and bake and Esau is a 'Kill-it-and-drag-it-home' rugged dude. They say the way to a mans heart is through his stomach and we find this to be true for poor Esau who proceeds to literally beg Jacob for a bowl of his homemade lentil soup (he's tired because he's been out 'hunting' all day). Jacob is sly so he's like "Hey Esau, Bro, you can have a bowl of this soup- just give me your birthright!" And just like that, without even flinching, Esau gives in. Two points for team Jacob.

While Esau may not have been the 'brightest crayon in the box', he did have good taste in soup!

Today I have a real treat for you... A lentil soup that is sure to please even the pickiest of eaters.

Lentil Soup:


2 cups of uncooked lentils
8 cups of vegetable broth (you can also use chicken broth if you want)
1 large onion, chopped
3 carrots, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
2 potatoes, chopped
2-3 Tablespoons olive oil
2 bay leaves
1-2 teaspoons of sea salt
4 cloves of garlic (you can cook them whole, or mince them - your choice)

Method: 

1. Wash lentils 
2. Mix ALL ingredients into soup pot and cook until lentils are soft. Approximately 1 hour. 

That is literally IT!! Can you believe it's that easy? This soup is loaded with good things for your body. This does make a lot of soup, but it's great warmed up again. It might get a little 'thick' the second day, but just add a little more water or broth if you need to and you'll be back in business. I really hope you enjoy this. Ben and I love this hardy winter soup! 

Also, speaking of Bible reading (as I mentioned earlier)... I wanted to let my entire reading community know that I have made a resolution to read and listen to the entire Bible in one year! I figured, what better accountability than to have ALL of you know what's up. So, I am telling you this now to let you know that I will be keeping you posted as the months go on as to how I am doing and what new things I am learning in God's word! Sound good? 

I also wanted to share with all of you my personal reading and listening methods as I have found them EXTREMELY beneficial and successful. Over the past year I have fallen in love with an online community known as the Daily Audio Bible. This community has literally changed my life. Brian Hardin is the founder and daily reader. He takes the Bible in 'bite-sized' portions and reads a little every day. The best news is that they have an app for your cell phone and I listen everyday either while I'm doing my makeup or driving to work. If you take the time to download the app and listen to the Bible in a year, it 'will' change you like it's changed me- I promise. Simply click the following link to get started on your journey- Daily Audio Bible.

In addition to listening to the Bible everyday, I am reading through my One Year Bible (available at all Book & Bible stores). These Bibles follow Brian's exact reading plan, so it's double-duty for your mind and really seals the message in your brain. Brian also has a One Year Bible (that I want to get) called Passages and it's for sale on their website. I REALLY want to get this soon because it's available for all different e-readers like Kindle, Nook, and iPad. I just got a Kindle for Christmas--- so exciting (Thank you Ben)! 

Whew, that was long. Are you still there? ;) 

I will be blogging again on Friday and it's going to be good so stay tuned- and THANK YOU for reading. 

Product Review - Sally Hansen Salon Effects

Good afternoon! It's shaping up to be another (abnormally) warm day here in Michigan! Bring it on. I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend. I had the privilege of traveling to Grand Rapids this Sunday to play & sing with our worship band for an evening service at a wonderful church. Great memories! I love our team.

Ok, so let's talk manicures. I rarely indulge in a manicure due to the fact that I play guitar every week, so I can't really say I have a budget for these things. However, I do know that the average manicure is like- $12-20 dollars? Is that about right? And that is if you plan on getting a basic manicure. Designs cost even more per nail.
Kiss expensive manicures goodbye! It's Sally Hansen to the rescue! 

These 'Salon Effects' nail strips are genius! They are made from real nail polish and stay on forever. This past September I went to Italy for two weeks and wanted my nails to look good- but didn't want to be fussing with them, you know? So, I went the way of nail strips and I wasn't disappointed. These little guys really do last almost two full weeks!! The great part is that you can even put a top coat over them, and then they REALLY aren't going to budge. I don't know why they work so well, but I do know that they were one of the greatest beauty inventions of 2011. Trust me.

The best part?- They are only $9.99 at most retailers! *And, to let you in on my little secret- I got these 1/2 off at $4.99! That's a deal if you're used to spending money on manicures. I chose to try the 'Hounds Tooth' design this time and it turned out totally awesome.

When you open the package, you will be pleasantly surprised to find not only the nail strips, but directions, a cuticle stick, and even a cute little nail file. All you need to do is fit the appropriate strip to each nail, file off the excess, and you're done! Like I said earlier, I recommend a top coat to keep them on even longer. They only take about 10 minutes to stick & dry. I think you will love them.











Here is a picture of the finished product:

Thank you for reading! Be looking forward to more juicy beauty blogging this week- most likely Wednesday & Friday. An exciting week awaits us!  

"The Smolder" - Smokey Eyes for the Brave!

Ok... I know for a fact I speak on behalf of the entire Michigan population today when I say "What is up with Spring in January!?!!?" It's true, it feels like Spring outside and it is absolutely wonderful in every way! Upper 40's? HELLO. I'll take it. Bear is looking at me right now like "Mom, seriously- get off your bottom and take me for a walk."

So, who's ready to 'smolder'?? Who's up for the challenge? I had so much fun today creating this intense smokey eye for all of you. I truly hope you enjoy! Since this is quite an 'involved' look, we're taking this baby one step at a time. The thing to remember when creating a dramatic eye is this- don't get frustrated, just play. You'll have plenty of time to practice. The other thing to remember is- BLEND! Work those brushes. The key to good makeup artistry is blending. Just use the back and forth 'sweeping' motion we talked about in my 'Brush Basics' blog, and before long- you'll be pro. Trust me, if I can learn- anyone can.







STEP ONE- Prime Time: Prime all
over your lid- lash to brow.

STEP TWO - Base: Take a neutral

color and go all over the eye. This will

'Set' your primer. It won't budge.

STEP THREE - Outline: Take your liner
brush and line out a dramatic wing. Do
the same for the other side and make sure
they're both even. ;)

STEP FOUR - Fill: Use a shaping

brush to sort of 'pat' in the rest of the

dark color into the outline.

STEP FIVE - Darken: Take a darker
color and fill in the winged, outer edge
of the outline. Heap on that drama, girl!

STEP SIX - Add Purple: Pat on some

deep purple over the interior of the eye

and some on the winged, outer edge. This

really brings out some beautiful color.

STEP SEVEN - Line Under Eye:
Take a small brush and line the same
purple under your eye! Beautiful effect.

STEP EIGHT - Glitter & Glam:

Get a bright white or silver glitter color

and highlight the interior part of your eye.

This is really going to make your eyes pop.

I use an incredible product by Lorac called

Liquid Lustre (Click on the link to see it &

buy). I will probably do an entire blog on this

product someday. It is SOO glittery. The

picture doesn't do it justice.

STEP NINE - Liquid Line on Top:
Take a liquid liner and line the top of
your eye, making sure to wing it out at
the ends. Tip: pat the liner into the lash line
as you go.This will really saturate the area
and make it look crisp and clean.

STEP TEN (still with me?) - Highlight Brow: 

The key to any smokey eye is to highlight

right under your brow to make it stand out.

This is one of the last things you do.

STEP ELEVEN - Fill in Brows: 
Fill in your brows slightly. This makes
them look full and dramatic. I do this
with the brush used in the 'outline' picture.

Complete your look with two coats of mascara (top & bottom)

and then have fun accessorizing. Smokey Eyes are the Bee's Knees!!

Please feel free to send me YOUR smokey eye pictures at: thebeesknees.melissa@gmail.com!! I want to see them!!! Also, if there is a picture or certain celebrity 'look' that you want the Bee's Knees to cover, send it to me and I will do my best to re-create it and share it with the world! Thank you so much for reading and I hope you have fun creating your beautiful smokey eyes. Here are two more 'up close' pictures of the finished product: