Keeping my right brain happy!

In an effort to keep my right brain stimulated, I've finally enrolled in art classes! I always took art classes in high school but I guess I figured I wasn't good enough.
I found a great lady here in the Pittsburgh area while on the search for a color theory class to better enhance my makeup skills. After seeing her work of oil painting with knives, I became hooked! I thought hmmmm I could do that.
Now with all my kids being in school all morning I will have the free time. I've already taken a couple of her classes and this is what I've done at home. I am also working on a piece at her studio. I am however quickly running out of pictures to paint and am trying all manners to get the hubs to travel a bit more for some inspiration. Unfortunately I have no desire to paint anything from our up coming trip to Las Vegas.
Any recommendations?!

Winter vacation 18x24


My boys! <3 18x24

I did this for hubs at his work. It's there original metal plant. 20x24 oil with knives on aluminum panel.


I'm in a happy place right now!

xo Kate

Blue Skies in Savannah!

The hubs and I took a very quick trip down to Savannah this week so I could 'do' my birthday present! Believe me when I say that deserves a post all to itself!
Anyway, we had absolutely beautiful weather! And in recognition of hubs wearing a different blue shirt EVERY day, I've included my 'blue' pictures from around that beautiful city!












XO Kate :)

Delicious fall soup recipe!

I came across this easy and delicious sounding recipe in my Williams Sonoma catalog. However there was a catch, it wanted me to use their butternut squash puree. Not wanting to shell out $12 + tax and shipping (my nearest one is 30 min away), I decided to improvise. After reading the ingredients, it was nothing more than pureed butternut squash with seasoning. And since squash is in season right now, I picked up 2 for no more than a couple bucks. The soup turned out amazing, and now I'm sharing it with you!

P.S. I love being able to make things that are 'in season'! They just taste so much better!

Butternut squash and apple soup! (adapted from Williams Sonoma)

2 Butternut squashes
1 tbsp pumpkin pie seasoning

1 tbsp. unsalted butter
1 yellow onion ( chopped or sliced thin)
squash puree
1 local apple, peeled, cored, sliced thin
1 32oz. container of chicken stock
2 bay leaves
3 tsp salt, plus more to taste
1/2 c. creme fraiche
1/4 tsp. ground coriander (opt. but recommended!)
dash of ground ginger (opt.)

For the puree: Cut both squashes in half lengthwise, scoop out seeds. Lay facing up on a baking sheet. Bake at 325 for hour - hour and half. (start checking after hr. - tender like a baked potato!)
Let cool then scoop out to a bowl. Add the pumpkin pie seasoning. Using a food processor or blender puree in batches adding enough water to bring it to a cake batter consistency.

For the soup:
In a large soup pot (I like my cast iron le crueset) sautee the butter and onions until soft, about 10 min.
Add squash puree, apple, stock, bay leaves and 3 tbsp. salt. Stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 1 hour. Apples should be tender.
Discard bay leaves and add creme fraiche, and the optional seasonings.
Puree using a stick blender or regular blender.

Enjoy!

XO Kate :)

Get a better experience from your makeup artist!

Hey beauty dolls!

So you want to hire a makeup artist (me!) for a special event. I think we all may have had an 'off' experience at a department store counter. The most I would try for was lipstick and they could never get it right!
My first advice is to have a trial if possible. Now you can't expect perfect results with this. I know with me I like to just get the makeup on the girl so she can wear it for a while and try it out. It usually always ends up being out of her comfort zone, but being able to walk in it all day and see it in pictures with out pressure is the key. You may decide you need less or lighter or heck you may see a picture and say "I need more!"
Now the second and BEST advice! Communication is KEY! Ever heard of a smokey eye? Well there are probably 101 ways to do a smokey eye. My preference for a smokey eye for you and your idea of a smokey eye is guaranteed to be different! So what do you do? Bring pictures!!!
Bring a few! Sounds so simple but ladies rarely do. I always get "just do whatever you think looks good on me." Then when we're done, "Oh, I don't like the eyeliner like that. or I don't like that color of blush." Knowing some of these things before hand will get us closer to your perfect look! And pictures can help you relay that to the artist. It could be a picture that you like that simple eye, or you like that lip color. You don't need to find a picture that has it all (although if you do, great!). Pictures are the communication that translate an idea from your mind to mine.

All makeup artists want the client to get the most from her experience. It never matters if we love your makeup, it's how you feel. We want you to FEEL beautiful!

XO Kate :)

*p.s. got a makeup question? send me a comment!

Getting Carrie Underwood's bridal look

After much research and shopping, I am so excited to be able to show you how to get Carrie Underwood's bridal look! These are the same colors and products used by Carrie's makeup artist for her wedding day! I am using my Airbrushing Beauty eyeshadow brushes to create the look!
The brushes are available on ebay, but you can also message me for them directly.

I just absolutely loved her look and I personally wish more brides would take on the heavier eye! It looks so romantic and perfect for a bride!

Enjoy the video and let me know what other celebrity looks you would like to learn!

XO Kate :)

Now available!

I have finally completed and listed my first AlannaK Caftan for sale on EBay!

A lot of this garment is hand stitched using couture sewing methods!

Please check it out and pass it on to someone you may know who would love this look too!

Let me know what y'all think about it!

XO Kate :)

Eye look how-to's!

I'm so excited about my latest beauty venture! The biggest question I get asked, as a makeup artist is "which brush should I use with what eyeshadow?" and "I just really don't know how to do my eyes!"
Well loves, worry no longer! I created a wonderful, cruel free line of eye brushes! I've picked the 6 most used brushes in my kit and designed a professional line that is more affordable to you! The key to a great makeup application is great tools! But it doesn't stop there! I've created my first how-to video so you can get a great look with these brushes!
Shop the brushes here:
Check out the video!

This is summer bronzed eye look that we did!
I have many more videos up my sleeve!

Have fun playing with this look!

XO Kate :)