Now I’m not trying to jump to any conclusions, but I’m pretty sure that if I do it, I too will be inducted into the royal family. Just saying.
Last week, I decided that my adult identity will be that of one with great bone structure (thanks to the magic of contouring and highlighting). While I haven’t quite figured out what else defines “grown-up Hannah,” I know that she is uber trendy (Uggs with a mini skirt is still a thing, right?).
That is why when I learned that the Pantone color of the year is “Radiant Orchid,” I knew this was a trend that I just could not pass up trying. While I’m normally a Chapstick kind of girl, I have to say that this purple lipstick is pretty fabulous.
The name does not lie—this color is INTENSE. Go big or go home, right? The color was vibrant and violet after just one stroke. Plus it made my lips feel amaaazing and didn’t smear. I put this on right before heading out and it lasted all throughout dinner and a glass or two of wine 😉
Unfortunately, I don’t think this lipstick fulfills my dream of looking more like Ms. Bey, but I am fairly positive that my chances of being adopted by Jay and the Queen just went up a little. Get at me you two.
Have a beauty trend you’d like to see me try? Tweet me @han_cran, #beautynewbie, with your suggestion!
We all know THAT sporty girl. She loves a cold one after work. She is great at poker and down to smoke a cigar with the guys. She knows the stats about the latest game and completely bros out on the weekend. She is…the cool sporty girl. (Jamie’s note: I’m so NOT this girl. I had to ask Hannah when the Super Bowl is even on TV)
Now, while I will always prefer a skinny margarita over a Coors Light, I can’t help but have a tinge of envy when it comes to the world’s cool sporty girls. So this Sunday, I’m stepping up my game (no pun intended) and giving those cool sporty girls a run for their money. I am going to master the Super Bowl. “Master” might be an exaggeration, but I am going to know a fact or two to prove my knowledge before and after the Bruno Mars concert…I mean, halftime show. (Jamie’s note: I wish Beyonce were performing again, sigh).
Here is my SUPER BOWL FACT SHEET, so you too can be the cool sporty girl at your game-day party:
Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos: you can show your support with these super cute nail art ideas (try not to pick a team to root for based solely on the colors) (Jamie’s note: but if you DO, don’t tell any men that was your reasoning.)
Quarterbacks (or QB): Russell Wilson vs. Peyton Manning
KEY TERMS AND FACTS:
Both teams want to score by advancing into the opposing team’s endzone (at either end of the field with the big fork thing)
Offense– tries to score (like a goal or basket or home run in other sports) by entering the opposing team’s endzone
Defense– tries to protect their endzone, by smashing into (or tackling) the offensive players and making them fall or drop the ball, or by intercepting the ball (think monkey in the middle)
Each team gets 4 attempts, or downs, to travel 10 yards with the ball. They can pass (this is where the QB’s come in) or run with the ball. Once the player hits the ground, the play is over and the team has one less down. If they travel all 10 yards within the allotted 4 downs, then they get another 4 downs to try to cover an additional 10 yards and advance towards the other team’s endzone.
If the team doesn’t cover 10 yards within the 4 downs then the other team gets the ball and the whole thing starts all over.
If the team gets super close to the other team’s endzone before the end of their 4 downs, they can attempt kicking the ball between the goal posts (the big fork thing) for a field goal, worth 3 points.
Touchdown– worth 6 points when a team runs or catches the ball in the opposing team’s endzone.
After a touchdown, the team can gain an additional point by kicking the ball between the goal posts in the endzone or two points if they run or pass it in.
Now you are officially a cool girl. Just throw in an italicized word every now and then through a mouthful of chips and dip and you’ll be good to go.
Jamie’s note: I had to add in these super adorable chocolate covered strawberries that look life footballs (sorry, Hannah), but they’re a perfect and healthy game-time snack. If any men are reading this, completely ignore this photo. Go team.
As I mentioned in my first post, I’m at a point in my life where I need to develop my “adult” identity—dare I say, I’m having a quarter life crisis. I am exploring all of the things that I believe my grown-up persona should encompass: how I will pursue my career aspirations, what my political beliefs are, and if I’m the kind of person who can pull off a chic crop top or not (Jamie’s note: she CAN. I’ve seen her do yoga) I know that the way that you present yourself to the world is crucial, but as a newbie to the beauty scene (you mean, there is more to a beauty regimen than eyeliner and mascara?), I have not quite figured out what that look will consist of yet. Am I a bold cat-eye kind of girl? Can I rock a hot pink lip a la Jessica Biel? Or, am I more of natural, Urban Decay Naked Palette, kinda lady? The jury is still out.
But, I invite you to join me on my Beauty Newbie journey, as I try out the latest tricks and trends (with some much needed guidance from the beauty expert herself, Jamie), discovering and developing my big girl self.
First up, contouring and highlighting—a simple but essential beauty trick. After catching a glimpse of Lena Dunham on the cover of Vogue’s February Issue, I couldn’t help but notice her gorgeous bone structure.
Now while I believe that every woman is beautiful, I think we all know she didn’t, in the words of Beyoncé, “wake up like dis.” To create a contoured and highlighted look like Lena, I followed this guide from Pinterest that provides a step-by-step on the process:
I only used two products to create this look: Josie Maran Argan Creamy Concealer Crayon in Medium 1 for the contours, and Benefit High Beam as a natural highlighter for my skin tone. I recommend using a contouring color that is one shade darker than your natural skin tone and a highlighter that is close to your skin color, with just a bit of sparkle. Because both of these products are in cream and liquid form, I just used my fingers to blend the colors into my skin to give it a super natural, ***Flawless look.
So far, I am digging what this quarter life identity crisis is doing for my “bone structure” and this is definitely one trick that I plan to keep in my beauty arsenal.
Have a beauty trend that you’d like to see me try out? Tweet me @han_cran, #beautynewbie, with your suggestion!
When I met Hannah I felt like I met my 22-year-old self all over again…only she was a much better interview. Fact. I love her tenacity and enthusiasm and I can already tell that she “gets” what Queen of the Quarter Life Crisis is all about. I’ll let her fill you in on the rest…
HANNAH CRANSTON, ASSISTANT EDITOR:
Hello there, cyber world! Hannah here and I am beyond excited to join the Queen of the Quarter Life Crisis team. I’m just your average, fun-loving, sweets-craving, endorphin-seeking, 22-year-old who wants to share her love for beauty, fashion, and LIFE with the world. I was born and raised in LA and recently graduated from Duke University. As I embark into the real world (yikes!), I’m exploring who I want to be, what I want to look like, and what Pinterest recipes will look best on my Instagram. It ain’t easy navigating all that on top of trying to be a functioning woman of society–that’s why I love QueenoftheQuarterLifeCrisis.com. Jamie gets that the most attractive thing about a girl is her confidence and shares her tips, tricks, and just the right amount of sass, to help you make that shine through. I’m still building my “adult” identity, so cannot wait to learn all about the best products, trends, and treats to try and hope that I can bring my love of fitness and newbie status to the beauty world as a fresh perspective to the blog. In the words of the ever-so-profound Black Eyed Peas, “Let’s get it started…”
Jo made a the best first impression on me ever: she got to our interview before I did. I didn’t know it at the time, but Jo just so happens to be from the city in Long Island where I was born. How crazy is that?! Aside from being a New Yorker, which obviously earned her bonus points, she’s a certified yoga teacher who used to work at a law firm and just recently moved to LA. Yoga + organization/time management skills = one really awesome intern. Here’s her story…
JO WALKER, INTERN:
I’m a certified yoga teacher and I love that my job helps people find happiness in their everyday lives. I’m passionate about health and wellness, fitness and food, and I love beauty and fashion; I think they’re tools that allow us a daily dose of creativity and self-expression. We get to shape our image and cultivate our experiences by the choices we make with our clothes, our purchases, and our time, but in my everyday life, I generally have no makeup on, and when you meet me, most likely I’ll be barefoot wearing leggings. So, I’m thrilled for the opportunity to soak up all the beauty and style tips I can from Jamie. I love her Tuesday Web Candy and Weekend To-Do series, and I’m definitely in need of all the beauty product recommendations I can get. I’d love to do a series on fitness and wellness, and get the opportunity to share some of my years of yoga experience and general wellness tips. I’m also excited to share my favorite healthy and delicious recipes, and my love for food on the blog. I have almost 10 recipe boards on my Pinterest and I’m trying to make, cook and bake my way through everything on there. See some of my results on my Instagram. I just recently relocated from NY to LA, so I’m still settling in, seeing the sites, and basically shifting perspective from a tourist to a local. I think fresh food tastes better, and have been impressed by how easy it is to get locally caught seafood, locally grown produce, local olive oil and, of course, the local wine(!) here in California. I think it’s really important to value and support local food production, and I volunteered with an organic farm when I lived in NY. I’d love to investigate the new-to-me local LA food systems and feature foods grown and products made in the area for the blog. I think it might be a great excuse for Jamie to throw those dinner parties she’s had on her resolution list! I’ll be moving into a new apartment soon, and then I’ll definitely be hosting some myself. I’m starting to plan my best-day-ever party since I’m recently engaged, and I’ll be sharing that on my new blog. Follow my thoughts on my new city, my life, and see what I’m reading now on my Twitter.
I also have a pretty decent green thumb, so I’m also hoping Jamie will let me help her get the plant life going on the balcony 🙂
Editor’s note: SHE WILL. How awesome is my new team?!
