Weekend in Waco

I mentioned last week that I was going on a girls trip, well I'm back! I had an amazing time with some pretty awesome people. We toured different places, ate way too much food, and enjoyed our time together. I really can't complain about anything from this weekend.

This weekend was sort of special to me. My travel companions were family, family that I don't get to spend much girl time with. I, in a sense, got to reacquaint myself with these ladies and learn new things about them I didn't know before.

I highly recommend taking a weekend and spending it with you mother and maybe an aunt or two. You will be surprised to learn how much has changed since you were little. Believe it or not, those boring adults that you tried to avoid as a teenager are quite interesting now. I got to see a little bit of the mildly-wild side, I mean come on it was just Waco not Cancun.... But let me tell you, playing the adult cards on Heads Up will tell you a lot about a person.

On another growing up note; I know I have a small family of my own now, but it's nice to get out and a singular person instead of a plural family. Does that make sense? With these three I got to be an irresponsible adult. I stayed up late, slept in, and ate whatever I wanted! For a few days I got to chill out and forget about all my worries. There is nothing better than that, well maybe except a trip to Perry's Steakhouse.

Old Fashioned at Perry's Steakhouse in Austin, TX

Speaking of Waco, if you were wondering, yes we did go to see the Fixer Upper's Magnolia Silos. 

Setting on the field waiting on my fellow shopping companions 

Waiting to see if it rains

Oh, yes! We bought a ton of cupcakes and goodies!

The morning we checked out of the hotel you could tell there was a sad feeling, we didn't want to be wives/mothers/workers. We wanted to continue our adventure a little longer. But that is usually how the best trips go. Maybe we can make the next one a little longer. 

List your favorite Girls Trip destination in the comments below!

Trick & Treat

So, Halloween is around the corner. Who else is excited?!

I decided in the sport of the season I would create some fun looks that aren't just for dress up. You could reuse this makeup for any occasion! Lets use this holiday as an excuse to splurge and get some new makeup! 

You will have to excuse my crude editing skills..... I'm new to editing.

Let's talk about Anna. She has this can do spirit and full of joy. Beautiful blues and rose-y cheek colors are perfect to duplicate her look. Be sure to use some dark liner and maybe some false lashes to copy those doe eyes of hers.

Belle, my personal favorite, she has that dreamy enhanced natural beauty. Easy to see why she was named Belle, which means beauty. Some muted browns and a dash of pink on the eyes will create that natural smoke look for you. A slight peachy pink blush and medium nude lip color will set this look. If you want to really pump up the look use white eyeliner on your water line for the appearance of a larger eye.

Now, I don't know any about game of thrones. I have a ton of friends that love this show so I had to include it! Use some pink and tan eyeshadow for an easy eye look, some natural nude-to-pink blush, and a light pink matte stick or stain. Use the thinnest black liner to hug your lash line and powder to fill in your brows for that full look.  

Tiana is super simple and gorgeous! Throw on some pink or purple toned shadow and bring out that crease with some medium toned brown. Peach blush and lip gloss will give that youthful look that she gives. Using a mauve colored lipstick will give a more dramatic feel if you are up for it. Also be sure to wing that liner like there is no tomorrow, I recommend a creme liner for this look.

Evil Queen, for those who dare. She loves a good smokey purple eye. Use purple on the lid and up through the crease, black for the outer corner and blend into the outer half of the crease, and baby pink to highlight the eye. A deep nude blush or slightly pink tone will work nice. Now the kicker, use a bright red with a pink/blue undertone. If you use a red with an orange undertone it will contrast to much and make the look seem gaudy. If you want to go all out drawn on your brows with a dark eye pencil for that dramatic look.

I hope that these fun ideas inspire you for your costume this year. If you are interested in any of these looks send me a message and use the code NOTRICKS* for a special treat!


* Code NOTRICKS is only valid through October 15, 2016.

Castaway Time!

Freehand Friday Again!

Freedom. That is my subject. I am about to leave on a four day GIRLS road trip. On a normal day I am a wife, mom, taxi, cleaning service, laundromat, teacher, counselor, chef, and nurse. For the next four days I get to be Andi. I get to be a little irresponsible and crazy. If I want to go test wine or go to a fancy restaurant where kids aren't allowed, I CAN. Don't worry, I will post pictures when I get back.
I don't hate my life by any means, but everyone needs a vacation. Am I right, Amen sister.

https://youtu.be/vaFeJNGEtFM

I will be back refreshed and ready Tuesday!

I have Today's and Monday's posts pre-scheduled. Next Friday will be my first post. post vacation. :-)

Favorite Looks: Selena Quintanilla

So who else has seen the new beautiful Selena line that MAC has released? I'm loving the colors! Now, that doesn't mean I am going out and buying those products, I have just gained inspiration from them. It's like when Urban Decay releases a new pallett. I've spent over $200 in the last 4 years buying their Naked pallets. As much as I love makeup, I just can't justify spending that now that I know there are other options. If you could get a diamond ring at one Store A for $10,000 and the same ring at Store B for $5,000, which store would you buy from? I think I'm going to pick Store B, plus I hear that Store B also offers really good sales and discounts, just sayin'!
So I started digging into what I could use to replicate the looks or find something of the same quality or cheaper. Good thing I sale MARY KAY right? So I went to my book, I'm going to share what I found.

Fun Fact: Both Mary Kay Ash and Selena are from the great state of Texas!


Here is the Selena line:

              

Eyeshadow left to right top row to bottom: Fotos Y Recuerdos, Is it the Beat, Missing My Baby, No Me Queda Mas, Selena eyeshadow
Lip Colors: Dreaming of You ,Amor Prohibito ,Como La Flor

Here are my finds:

    Mary Kay's Precious Pink
Mary Kay's Coal
    Mary Kay's Ballerina Pink
Mary Kay's Hazelnut   
    Mary Kay's Iris

 

Mary Kay's Crushed Berry,  Mary Kay's Rich Truffle, and Mary Kay's Firecracker



Here is what I found out in the "checkout line"


Now let me lay this out for you. Each MAC eye shadow, from this line, is reported to be $17.
Each of my Mary Kay eyeshadow finds are $8.

So for all of the Mac Shadows it is $85. 
For all of the Mary Kay shadows it is $40.
To have all of the Mary Kay eyeshadows and a cute compact to store them in it is $57.

Now the lipsticks are the exact same prices! The only difference is your Mary Kay lady will give you discounts or sales, whereas MAC doesn't do that to often.


Now, I hope that helped you see there is more than one way to recreate your favorite looks. Let me know if you have any other lines or looks that you would like for me to recreate using Mary Kay products!


Now I am off to try to recreate my own Selena look! Let me know if you are interested in trying it out too!

Nothing but hound dogs...

We are going to call this Freehand Friday. I didn't plan for it and I don't know where I am going with it. Simple as that. I'm just going to talk to ya'll like you are sitting in front of me.

I'm setting here listening to country music and watching my dogs play around. Did you know I have dogs? In my family I have two two-legged kids and two four-legged kids. 

My oldest is Buster, Buster Brown if you want to get proper. My husband named him. I hated has name at first, it just wasn't unique at all. If you know our kids you know we love our unique names. But after a couple of weeks I seen it really fit him. He is super friendly and loving, but he has this awnry side. One second he will be wrestling with you in the floor and the next he is coming up to wanting an actual hug. I had never seen a dog ask for a hug before him. 

Now a lot of people love English Bulldogs but say "oh they are to expensive and have to many medical issues". I can't stand it! You will spend money on electronics and junk that you throw away after two years and don't say that that is to much money. As far as the health thing goes, that is luck of the draw AND who the breeder is. We have spent no more at the vet than you would for any other dog, so far. 

Our second baby is our newest. She was a Valentines present from my husband. Her name is a description of her personality, Kitty. Itty Bitty Kitty is our tiny girl. When we brought her home she was 1 1/2 lbs! She is now a whopping 9lbs. She is a Shih Tzu and Pekingese mix. My husband likes to call her a pick-a-shit......

These are our babies! They go to work with us everyday and make the work day a little more bearable. Kitty is always up for a back scratch or to play pounce. Buster is either bringing you his toys or gassing up the place. He can clear a room in 10 seconds. 

This is a Buster hug <3

Hope you enjoyed this little peek into my personal life.

If you have any ideas on what to do for the next Freehand Friday let me know!

Filtered Photos

Today everyone has their favorite Snap Chat or Instagram filter to use on their photos. I have one of my own too.....

Now most people are guilty of using #nofilter when there indeed was a filter. I see you blushing through the glass screen! 

No imagine there was no filters, what you see is what you get. What would you do? Would you add more makeup on? Would you put on false lashes on? Would you have cosmetic surgery? 

How many of you honestly feel that comfortable in your skin?

Let me tell you, it has taken a lot of courage for me to post the following picture. I have used makeup as a security blanket for all of my insecurities. I started wearing makeup when I was around 14 years old, to hide acne, and it only evolved from there. I would scratch at my breakouts until it looked like I was on drugs. It was awful. Now my skin isn't as bad as it used to be, but I still have areas that need help and things that make me feel insecure. This picture is my before. Before I ever touched Mary Kay products I used Proactiv, Clearasil, and other over the counter items to try to help my skin. Some things would help for periods of time, then it would either stop or start getting worse. I was always trying something new, if you can name it I have probably tried it. Now I have been on my Mary Kay regimen for a few weeks, I can't wait to show you the progress! 

Now that I have bared my naked face and shared my insecurities, I dare you to do the same!

I want you to take this experience along side me. This is not for the faint of heart. I'm asking you to dive in and try; not to wait and see. Let's see how many of you are brave enough to take on this challenge and enjoy the discount!

I want to see you tag my facebook page, Mary Kay Monday with Andi Joe, with your naked face and telling me what you would like to change. Or if you are shy try emailing me at andreasaiz@marykay.com. 

When I see your post/email I will send you a discount code* to use at one of my parties or at your next order. Lets find our what you insecurity and see if I can help you! If you send weekly update pictures, after four weeks of updates I will give you another discount code**! Let's improve our natural 'filters' together!

*Discount code- to qualify for discount code your 'before picture' must be submitted by 09/19/2016.

**Another discount code- I must have 4 'after' pictures, one from each week, before 12/19/2016.

I've been bitten by the bug

So there is this big pink bug floating around, it has been around since 1963. Once you get bitten to have some severe symptoms. Here are a few:

• Your blood starts pumping
• You become excited
• You get a black bag in the mail
• You start wanting to give facials
• You start wanting to throw parties all the time
• You start winning prized for doing well
• Extra money starts creeping in your bank account

That's right. I've been bitten by the Mary Kay bug! It happens to the best of us.

I am a newbie in this wonderful company. I am starting a the base level and I plan on working my way up the ladder. I truly hope you can help me along the way, if not then just sit back and enjoy the show! Now, this blog is going to filled with all kinds of fun stuff, but heads up, it will have a lot of Mary Kay posts. I will be showing: 

• Before & Afters
• This VS. That
• Let me find your match
• Reviews of products
• Makeup tutorials
• Special sales and promotions
• Giveaways!!!!

I hope you enjoy the show!

Introductions

Hi there, as you have seen my name is Andi Joe. Yes it truly is as country as it sounds. I was born and raised in the country, I have lived in the same town my entire life. I went to the same school from Pre-K to my senior year. Its not a stretch to say that I have lead a simple life, not that I am complaining.
The last few years have been a learning experience for me. I married a man that was raised seven hours away from where I live, so I now balance long weekend trips to visit his family. Before him I traveled once a year to Mexico and that was it. Now we are constantly on the go. We now have two children that are very active in athletics and other programs. We are constantly going here and there for football, basketball, baseball, t-ball, and other events. Now, between all of that my spouse and I hold down full time jobs in the same industry......at the same company.....in the same building.......within five feet of each other. Yes it is as difficult as it sounds but we are strong and we work with it.
 Now, my present, is changing. I have decided to change my future, I refuse to live that restricted life that I see others falling into. I have decided to start my own business and make money my way. I want to have that flexible lifestyle. I want to be able to spend more time with my kids. I want to spend more time with my family. Now the kicker, do you know what has been holding me back this long? Myself. I did this to myself. I have had several options presented to me where I could change my life and I was to scared. I was scared to fail at something new. I was scared no one would support me. I was scared I would put my family in a situation that would hurt us more than help us. I'M STOPPING THAT NOW. I have seen for years how people jump on band wagons to change their lives. They start selling a product that they don't know much about and get others to buy into it. I decided that wasn't for me a long time ago. But I was recently presented with an opportunity that I just couldn't turn down. A company that I knew about, a company I had been exposed to several times, a company that has been around longer than I have been alive. I knew the products, I knew the packaging and I knew the basics. I never looked at it as a business opportunity before, I only seen it as something to give bored housewives to do, as horrible as that makes me sound. It wasn't until this last August that I seen the business side of this company. It was like this huge locked iron door was opened in front of my face. This barrier in my mind that I kept up so I would not try something new, so I wouldn't get hurt, so I could not let anyone say that I failed at something. Once that iron door swung open there was no shutting it! I knew I could not turn away, I knew that I could do this, this was going to be my ticket out of the confined jail cell of '8am to 5pm'. So I signed up. No turning back.
 So. why am I starting this blog? Easy, I want to document my exciting journey and help others in their journey. I will post about what is going on in my day-to-day, information about my new business, and even more personal subjects. I am excited to start this new journey!

 Hold on, here we go!