Wise Tips For Smokey Eyes

You may think star quality make up is out of your reach, but anyone can achieve that smoldering smokey eye from the red carpet in just 4 easy steps. The smokey eye is appropriate for most ages and goes with almost any outfit. It can be applied as light or as dark as you want it to be. I enjoy this look when going out to dinner or to a party. Take a look at my eye below as I lead you through the application, step by step. 

What you will need:
   Eye lid primer
   3 eye shadows
   3 make-up brushes
   Liquid eye liner
   Black mascara

Step One:

    Sweep a light shadow with a little shimmer on your whole lid, from lash line to brow bone using a shadow brush. Choose a shadow that is about one shade lighter than your skin tone. I use Phloof! from MAC.

Step Two:

    Using a smaller shadow brush, gently tap a dark shadow ( Bronze from MAC) onto your upper lid, crease, and under your lower lashes.

 Step Three:

     Choose a dark brown, charcoal grey, or black eye shadow. I use Black Tide from MAC. Using a small angled brush generously apply the dark shadow into your upper lash line and lower lash line. The key is to properly blend the dark shadow into the lighter ones.

Step Four:

    Line the entire eye with black liquid liner, top and bottom. Curl and coat lashes with black mascara to finish it off. Choose a volumizing mascara such as Plush Lash from MAC. If you are looking for a very dramatic look add false eyelashes!  

 WISE TIPS

 Before applying your eye make up, use a prep and prime cream on your lids to help prevent the eye shadow from clumping in your creases and to help it last longer. I use the medium shade of primer from MAC.  Also, you may want to hold a tissue under your eye to catch the extra shadow that may fall. Pair the smokey eye with a lighter lipstick or gloss. Remember you want the focus to be on your eyes.

You don't have to be walking the red carpet to wear this smoldering look. Give it a try for your next summer party, and you can bet the barbecue won't be the only thing that is smoking hot!!!

Sprinkle Your 4th With Red, White, and Blue!!

Many of us are heading off to a 4th of July bar-b-que this weekend and trying to think of something to bring to the celebration of our country's birth. If you're like us, you want to think of something no one else will think of to bring to share in the festivities. Here are a few easy WISE IDEAS to sprinkle your holiday!

Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Ingredients:
12 ounce bag of white chocolate chips
Strawberries
Blue sprinkles, blue sugar, or edible blue glitter

Directions:

1. Melt 12 ounces of white chocolate chips in a microwave according to the package directions (make sure the container and berries are dry; even a little moisture will alter the texture of the chocolate.

2. One at a time, dip strawberries into the chocolate and then into the blue sprinkles, sugar, or edible glitter.

3. Set them to harden on waxed paper.

*This recipe is from the  Disney's Family Fun website.

Rice Krispy Treats

 Ingredients:

3 table spoons of butter

1 package (10 oz.) of marshmallows

6 cups of Rice Krispies

Blue and red M&M's

Red, white, and blue sprinkles

Directions:

1. In a large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.

2. Add cereal, M&M's, and sprinkles. Stir until well coated

3. Using a buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into a pan coated with cooking spray. Cool. Cut into squares.

*This is the original recipe from Rice Krispies with a little twist.

Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Ingredients:

12 ounce bag of white chocolate chips

1 Bag of large pretzel sticks

Red, white, and blue sprinkles

Directions:

1. Melt 12 ounces of white chocolate chips in microwave or on stove top.

2. Dip pretzel in melted chocolate a little less than half way.

3. Roll in sprinkles and set on wax paper to harden.

Red Velvet Cake Pops
Ingredients:

1 box (18 ounces) of Red Velvet cake mix

1 box (3.4 ounces) of chocolate pudding mix

4 eggs

1 cup water

1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup cream cheese frosting

12 ounces of white chocolate

Red, white, and blue sprinkles
24 sticks or long toothpicks

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray one 13X9X2 sheet pan or two 8 in. or 9 in. round pans with vegetable pan spray

2. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, water and oil; beat at medium speed with electric mixer for 2 minutes. Pour into prepared pan.

3. Bake 30-35 minutes for round pans; 35-45 minutes for sheet pan, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes; remove from pan to cooling grid and cool completely. Divide cake in half, freeze on half for future use.

4. In a large bowl, use hands to crumble cake until no large chunks remain. Add icing; mix with fingers until well combined. Form mixture into cake balls. Chill in refrigerator at least 2 hours.

5. Melt chocolate; dip sticks into melted chocolate and insert into cake balls. Let them harden. Wait until candy is completely firm before dipping into chocolate. The dip in sprinkles and let them harden.

*This receipe is from Wilton.

   If you don't have time or don't enjoy baking, you can purchase 4th of July Tootsie Rolls and Tootsie Pops and put them into cute red, white, and blue little buckets.

All of these recipes are quite a hit with children, and adults, too. We hope everyone has a save and happy 4th of July!