Eyebrows On Fleek {part one}

One of my superpowers is that I'm a licensed Esthetician. As a stay at home mom that means two things:

1. I can shop at the Beauty Supply Store for my friends and family at
    wholesale prices.

2. I can wax eyebrows like nobody's business. 

The last time I groomed my 13 year old's brows she said, "Eyebrows on fleek Mom!" I gave myself a virtual high-five and turned to Urban Dictionary. Luckily, this was the compliment I thought it was.

I have two teenage daughters which means three sets of brows that need constant grooming. Most of my skills were learned at the Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics, but practice makes perfect so you too can create your own version of waxing perfection. It just takes a little time to develop your technique. Besides, it's just hair. It'll grow back ;)

You can purchase all the supplies you need at a retail beauty supply store such as Sally or at a big box store like Walmart. There are various products available for personal waxing. I prefer to use honey wax that is removed using cloth strips.

{Warmer with can of wax inserted.
This one has a drip guard}

{Gather all of your supplies and get ready to wax!}

 Here's what you'll need:

Facial Cleanser
Wax
Wax Warmer {unless you buy microwaveable wax}

Baby Powder
Cloth Strips and scissors to cut to size
Applicators
Moisturizer or Olive Oil
Tweezers

1. Cleanse the area to be waxed with a gentle facial cleanser. 

2. Apply a small amount of baby powder on the area to be waxed. This
    absorbs any moisture and oil on the skin and allows the wax to adhere
    to the hair. 

3. Apply wax in one long stroke in the direction of hair growth. I use a
    tongue depressor broken in half lengthwise. 

4. Cover with a cloth strip, press firmly and rub in an outward motion.
    {remember, any hairs with wax on them will be removed!} 

5. Hold skin taut and QUICKLY pull the cloth strip back on itself in the
    opposite direction of hair growth. 

6. Apply pressure to the area. This helps control the pain. If you tend to
    have sensitive skin, apply a small amount of hydrocortisone cream to
    the area. 

Any wax residue left over can be removed by applying a gentle
moisturizer or olive oil and gently rubbing until the wax is dissolved. Cream wax removers are also available but I find them an unnecessary purchase. Also use this method if you get wax in your eyebrow. 

No matter how good you get at waxing, there are bound to be stray hairs left behind. Use your tweezers to take care of them. Grab the hairs as close to the skin as you can and tweeze in the direction of growth.

By the way...you never pluck a brow. Chickens are plucked, brows are tweezed!

{NEVER WAX SKIN THAT IS BEING TREATED WITH 

PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS!!! }

You Can Do It!

Thanksgiving Dinner Cupcakes

One of my obsessions is cupcakes. Another is food that looks like it's really something else. 

I came up with this idea one day while I was making cupcakes for my daughter's birthday and I ran out of the decorations I was using. I ended up with three cupcakes frosted in plain white buttercream. I kept thinking they looked like a mound of whipped potatoes so I experimented and ended up with these. Since, she's asked me to make them for 3 occasions. They are always a hit!

Make whatever flavor cupcakes you love! Frost 2/3 of them with white buttercream or any other white frosting. You will want to tint the frosting for your peas green. I usually put 1/3 of the frosting in a separate bowl and add a few drops of green food coloring.

Shopping List:

White Frosting

Green Food Coloring
Waxed Paper

Graham Crackers or Vanilla Wafers

White Chocolate Chips or Melting Wafers

Poppy Seeds

Yellow Starburst Candies

Runts Green and Orange Candies

For the Turkey Drumsticks:

1. Crush graham crackers or vanilla wafers and roll the frosted cupcake tops in the crumbs.
2. Melt white chocolate chips or melting wafers in the microwave. Carefully {it will be hot}, pour into a plastic baggie and snip off one corner. While the chocolate is still warm and melty, "draw" the drumstick on waxed paper. {I place the waxed paper on a cookie sheet before starting for easy transport to the fridge}

3. Once the chocolate has hardened, gently peel off the waxed paper and push the bone into the top of the cupcake at an angle.

For the Whipped Potatoes:
1. Sprinkle tops of cupcakes with poppy seeds.
2. Unwrap several yellow Starburst Candies and place on a plate on top of a piece of waxed paper. Heat for just a few seconds. This is a little tricky the first couple of times. You may lose a few in the process. If heated too long, the candy bubbles and makes a mess. If you do more than one at a time, they tend to run together. You just want it warm. Once the candy starts to melt and lose it's shape {looks like melting butter}, place it in the freezer to cool. Once firm, peel off waxed paper and place on top of cupcake.

I've also used caramel or butterscotch sundae topping in place of the butter. It looks just like gravy!

For the Peas and Carrots:

1. Mix your green frosting and top the remaining 1/3 of your cupcakes. 

2. Top with green and orange Runts candies. 

I buy the Runts at the Dollar Store. Usually three boxes will be enough to cover 6 cupcakes with green and orange. I use more peas than carrots because I like the way they look. 

If you have any suggestions or pictures of your own, please share!

You Can Do It!