Let's be real...

Where do I begin...

I started this blog as a way to be able to talk about what I truly LOVE doing and that's all things beauty. I find myself brewing up all these different ideas to offer tips and guidance to those who truly want or need it but do the viewers I'm reaching actually care or trust me? Mehhh... some of you probably do, some of you could be thinking "great another blogger," "get a real job" (which I have BTW) or you just don't care what I have to say. Which is totally fine.. like Britney Spears said that's your prerogative, but with all the supporters and even the haters I have to finally do what I want and what I THINK will make me happy in the long run. I have been tossing around thee idea of going to Cosmetology school to get my Esthetician license. This would mean that I would be licensed and able to work in a salon doing services like facials, make-up application, etc. However, like I talked about in my very first blog post, I have learned everything I know from the wonderful world of YouTube. (it seriously is like it's own little beauty world) I started "subscribing" to all these different girls like Casey Holmes, Jaclyn Hill, & Nicole Guerriero to name a few, who have taught me ALL my various make-up tips, tricks, and  different looks. I came to realize that many of them are not licensed in cosmetology and yet they have MILLIONS of subscribers (which took many years to gain) who follow their YouTube channels and in turn have been able to turn it into a career. Their FULL TIME job is making beauty, lifestyle, and fashion videos and blogs. Companies send them their products to review and in return they post a video talking about whether or not they liked a product and based on their opinions, people go out and buy A LOT of what they recommend (including me) because they know their shit for a lack of better word and people trust them! From what I understand YouTube has this program called YouTube Partner.. that's basically all I know haha. I am still trying to figure out how or what they get paid from YouTube but I think a big part of it is other companies wanting to sponsor them and run ads on their channel. My point of that back story is that maybe I don't need schooling or a license?  Maybe I need to just pick up my camera (well my sisters or my dads because mine has been broken for over a year..sad I know) and start filming. One of my friends from UMD, Meg, has been telling me to do this for years. I always thought there was no way people would subscribe to my channel when there are so many other girls on YouTube who know what they're doing. Then I realized maybe I know what I'm doing? People are contacting me to do weddings and special events and asking for advice on beauty related things that I thought why the hell don't I do it? Just like this blog what do I have to lose? I GUARANTEE my first few videos are probably going to be bad quality and will be completely raw with no editing unlike the pros on YouTube but with followers and time I can improve that just like all the veteran YouTuber's have. (plus I can't afford all the fancy lighting and editing software they use...yet anyway.)

So I think....I'm going to do it. I already have a YouTube channel called: truelifeilovemakeup and all you have to do is click the little red subscribe box! (you may notice I have 2 videos of my niece Kennedy on there, so just watch those until I can get a beauty one posted! She's adorbs!)

I don't know where this road is going to take me.. actually it's more like a gravel, muddy trail at this point but it could lead me to perfectly finished blacktop road with a little dedication, support, and determination. All of which I think I have.

So...Thanks for taking the time to read about nothing that probably interests you..if that's the case there's an [X] located in the upper right corner of your browser.. see ya! If it does spark some interest in you or you just want to support me PLEASE share my blog, my Beauty by Sonya Facebook page, and my soon to be beauty channel on YouTube!

-- Sonya

brows, brows, brows.

If I were to have a "Book of Beauty Secrets" written by myself (of course) the first chapter would be about... the anticipation is killin' ya isn't it?! As if my title wasn't obvious enough, Chapter 1: brows, brows, brows. I am about 95% sure 3/4 of the people reading this blog don't fill in their brows. Excuses often heard as to why people don't fill their brows sound something like "not enough time," "don't know how," or "I don't need too, they are dark enough." Well ladies the truth is your brows are what frame your entire face! Have you seen those pictures floating around social media of celebs brow-less? It's hilarious! Follow the link to see what I mean: http://celebswithnoeyebrows.com/ Filling in your brows isn't just to make them darker but to emphasize your eyes and provide shape that many of us are lacking. You may notice in pictures (or you probably don't notice because you don't do it) that your brows get washed out. That's typically the case for you (natural) blonde, fair skinned ladies who aren't so blessed in the eye brow department. You NEED to fill in your brows otherwise you turn out looking like Taylor Swift (don't get me started) brow-less. Hopefully after my ever so insightful post you will want to add this very quick step to your everyday routine.

Let's jump right into the products I swear by to achieve "shape-FULL" brows. 

[disclaimer: Mind you that all these products should be altered to fit you and your routine.] 

Step 1: Use the brow spoolie to brush through your sometimes wild brow hairs. You can find spoolie's just about anywhere. Refer to Sigma Beauty if you want to step up your brush game.  http://www.sigmabeauty.com/Brow_and_Lash_E80_p/e80.htm

Step 2: After you have combed through your ruly or in my case VERY unruly brows, apply brow wax. I know this is kind of a weird product and one I just recently added into my routine. However it really does help with "brow control" throughout your whole day. I use Milani's Brow Wax which I have only seen at CVS (if you live in Minnesota--who am I kidding of course you live in Minnesota) but again Sigma Beauty has a great alternative.  http://www.sigmabeauty.com/Brow_Wax_Pencil_p/bw001.htm 

Step 3: For this step you will NEED an angled brush. The one I currently use is from MAC Cosmetics but again you can find these just about anywhere and they are often paired with a spoolie so you get a 2-in-1, what a deal huh?! http://www.sigmabeauty.com/E65_Small_Angle_p/e65.htm You will use the angled brush with a brow powder of your choice.(of course) I have been using the Milani Brow Fix powder that is fully equipped with a mini angled brush and an ADORABLE mini tweezer for well over a year and I love it! You will come to realize there are soooooooooo many variations of ALL products ranging from drugstore prices (when I say drugstore I mean cheap or affordable) to high end (you understand high end by now.. aka expensive) it's all about finding what works best for you, your BROWS and heck your wallet too! 

Step 4: Brow gel. Enough said right? Well you use brow gel to ensure your eyebrows stay in place all day long. Also known as brow mascara. I use Anastasia Beverly Hills brow gel in the shade brunette (that's a high end product ladies hence the name) but again if this is a step you want to cut out by all means DO IT!

Oofta... That was lengthy.. now I must be crazy because I am going to show you before, during, and after pictures just so you can see the difference a good brow makes.

One last little {tip} I have is remember your brows shouldn't be twins but sisters. Don't spend too much time on getting them to look thee exact same because your wasting precious contour time (we'll get into that next post--maybe) and they shouldn't ever look identical.

Until next time...

Turning a passion into a reality...

Hi Everyone!

My name is Sonya. Obviously this is my first post but I could not be MORE excited to see where this outlet takes me. I'm a southern Minnesota, {self} proclaimed (my family and friends may agree), girly girl. I eat, breathe, and even dream all things beauty & fashion. People often ask how I got into doing make-up.. well let me rewind. I couldn't tell you an exact date or time when I really started getting into make-up. Like most people I'm sure I could find a picture of myself standing in front of a mirror with my mom's {borrowed}bright red lipstick on but let's skip that part and just get into how I got to where I am today. I started watching YouTube videos when I was in college, mayyyybe a freshmen but I suffer from {undetermined} memory loss so I can't be sure. From there I taught myself everything I know and there began my addiction to all things beauty. My make-up collection went from having 5-10 products to having 5-10 eye shadow palettes alone! Some would say it's a problem but honestly it's not anything illegal so buzz off. You can find me watching beauty tutorials any chance I get. Trust me.. my boyfriend can contest to that. I LOVE doing my own make-up and trying out new looks everyday that I thought why don't I practice on my family and friends? So.. I would volunteer my sisters and my besties (HEY GIRLS!) and practice sometimes crazy looks but mostly smokey eyes, cliche right? From there, I found myself being asked to do many of my friends make-up if we were doing a GNO (that stands for Girl's Night Out if you've been living under a rock) or if other family member's had a special event. Then I was honored to do some my girlfriends weddings & bachelorette parties and now I find myself doing complete strangers make-up for their Weddings, Proms, Family Pictures, etc. and it is SO awesome!! I absolutely LOVE it!

I know blogging is super popular and trendy if you will, but I often get asked to do classes or tutorials of my own. So why not do it through a blog? I hope to recreate some of my favorite looks for those of you who may be lacking in the make-up department and just need to be taught the basics.

I have no idea if people will even care what I have to say or what I have to teach but what's the worse that can happen? Nobody reads this and I don't do another post? Shoot, I hope I can get over that rejection. Plus, I know I will get at least one follower! (HI MOM!)

I know I mentioned my obsession with beauty & FASHION however, I think that's enough ramble for one post.

Here goes nothing...