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Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Teen Mom 2 star Chelsea Houska chats beauty with the Bargain Blonde

When I recently received an e-mail from Chelsea Houska's PR Team asking me if I'd like to interview her, I couldn't type "Um, duh" fast enough. Were my eyes deceiving me? Was this really an e-mail asking if I'd like to interview Chelsea Houska from MTV's Teen Mom 2?  No friends, my eyes were not playing tricks.  This was real life and last night i had the opportunity to speak with this pretty mamma all about her favorite beauty and hair products.
via Chelsea's Instagram (@ChelseaHouska)
As a huge Teen Mom fan (I've never missed an episode), excited was an understatement. Chelsea has always been a favorite of mine because of what an amazing Mom she seems like and on a personal level, I can relate to her relationship woes with Aubree's father. 

Plus, I've always thought she was beautiful with great style, and since she is currently enrolled at Black Hills Beauty College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where she studies the art of make-up application and hair design, I couldn't wait to chat all things hair and beauty with her.  

In case you are wondering, I'm happy to report that Chelsea was just as sweet and down to earth as I expected.  In fact, I totally felt like her and I were long lost besties just chatting away. You could even hear little Aubree running around in the background.  Speaking of Aubree, is she not the cutest ever?
via
Enough of my rambling. Check out our interview below and let me know what you think in the comments! 

Did you always know you wanted to be involved in beauty/hair?  What made you decide to go to beauty school?
My mom went to beauty school and she did it for a little while when I was younger. And when I was growing up, our house had a room that was like a salon. I was always in there playing with my friends' hair so I've always known this is what I wanted to do.

You are running late and only have time to put on three make-up items before leaving the house, what are they and why?
Mascara because you always need mascara, a little powder or bronzer and lipstick or chapstick. I feel like that covers a little of everything.

I have long hair as do you, so how do you keep yours healthy?  Any tricks of the trade learned in beauty school?
Before beauty school I never used thermal sprays, but ever since I started school, I learned how important thermal sprays are. I use Kenra Thermal Styling Spray, which you can get at salons.   
I always curl my hair, and the products I use are mousse, a spray leave-in conditioner, thermal spray and I finish with a silkening gloss. 
Chelsea's Curls via

Favorite hair product you swear by? 
There is this stuff that I use that makes my hair really big. It’s called Dust It by Osis. You put a little bit in at the roots and then you tease it. I love it!

*Editors Note: We started talking about how we both have fine hair and I told her it is impossible for me to tease my hair because of this. She swears Dust It is a miracle, so I am ordering it online here and I will report back.  It has great reviews online!

How many times a week you wash your hair?
My hair is really fine and if I don’t wash it often, it looks greasy so I wash it every day or every other day.  I have used the Kenra Dry Shampoo between washes. 
Whenever I'm babysitting my 4-year-old nephew, my beauty routine goes out the window.  How do you find the time to put yourself together as a single mom enrolled in school raising a young daughter?   
It’s so hard!  But, I always wake up early before her to get ready and then once I'm ready, I'll get her ready.  We have a great routine down.  If I try to get ready while she's awake, it's so hard because she loves to play in my make-up. 
Chelsea and Aubree via
What is your favorite drug store foundation and mascara? 
I've used Revlon Colorstay Foundation for forever and my favorite mascaras are by L'oreal. I just try to find the mascara with the thick brushes on the end because I like my eyelashes really big!  
  
Do you use pencil, automatic or liquid liner?  What is your favorite brand? 
I use pencil and automatic.  I am obsessed with all MAC make-up, so their eyeliner is probably my fave. 



Name a makeup crime that you hate.
I hate this but I know I’m guilty of it sometimes. I hate when people have foundation lines all down their chin. I hate it, but I know I’ve been guilty of it! 
via

What celebrity beauty style do you admire the most?
For hair I admire Lauren Conrad because she does a lot of how-tos on her blog that I like to follow.  I love the Kardashian girls for make-up.
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Do you feel like you have to get "done up" before filming? Do you have stylists that help you or is what we see hair and make-up wise done all by you? 
I wish we had people who did our hair and make-up but they definitely don’t!  At first, when I first started filming, I would always try to get ready, but now I don’t always and I always regret it if I don't. 
via

There you have it bargainistas. My Guiliana Rancic "red carpet moment".  Except I was sitting on my couch in sweats on a cell phone.  Story of my life.

So, what do you think? Do you love Chelsea as much as me?  I cannot wait to try out the Dust It hair product she recommended.  Huge thank you to Chelsea for taking the time to chat beauty with me! 
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Tuesday, August 7, 2012

I've decided to meal plan and I hate thieves.

In an attempt to be more organized, eat out less and save money, I've decided to give this whole meal planning thing a whirl.  I make no promises, but I am going to give it the ole' college try this week and see how my checking account and waist line like it.

Here is what is on the menu at Casa de Bargain Blonde this week.

Monday (yesterday) - Chicken and Rice Casserole
This is my absolute favorite meal in the whole wide world and only 4 ingredients (rice, chicken, cream of mushroom, black olives). Sounds sick, but it's my fave.  

Tuesday  - Baked Mushroom Pork Chops 
Recipe adapted from All Recipes

Wednesday - Texan Ranch Casserole
via Taste of Home

Thursday - Lia Joy's Chicken Spaghetti
via Lia Joy's blog Life is aMAYESing - However, I plan on using reduced fat cheese and using it sparingly. Still trying to lose weight, folks.

Friday - Leftovers

Let's not kid ourselves completely. I highly doubt I'll be cooking meals on Friday nights, so leftovers it is. Any avid meal planners out there that can share their tricks of the trade?  Please leave any meal planning advice in the comments. 

In some shocking and sad news, I got a call from my Mom this morning who is away on business telling me burglars broke into her house last night.  My first question was, "Where is Nicky (my cat)?"  Turns out, he has yet to be located which breaks my heart.  I really, really, really hope he is hiding in a closet or under the bed because if not ... well, I don't even want to think about it.  

The police were at her house last I checked taking finger prints and the likes. The scumbags who broke in stole some electronics, a box of my blank checks (awesome), etc.  I really don't understand people. Why would someone do this? Get a job and don't steal from people who work hard for their money. 

FIND NICKY!
My cat, Nicky, and a baby Reesey.  Melt my heart. 

Please keep Nicky in your thoughts. I want him home safe.
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VIDEO: DIY Shoe Chandelier

Remember a few weeks ago when you voted on which DIY project you wanted TenList, the home improvement experts, to make a video of next?  Well, your wish is my command. Really, your wish is TenList's command. Drum roll please ...

The "Shoe Chandelier" project was the winner! 


Daniel, the TenList DIY guy, has put together an easy DIY video tutorial on how to make a shoe chandelier for your closet.  It's a very inexpensive and cool way to give your shoes a home.

After you watch the video, share your thoughts in the comments: How would you make this project better?  Will you attempt this at home?

If you do make your own shoe chandelier, tweet a picture of it to me @thebargainblond and @TenList10 using the hash tag #shoechandy!  Happy DIY-ing.




Do you like TenList on Facebook?  They frequently give away hundreds in gift cards away to their Facebook fans!


And while we're at it, do you like The Bargain Blonde on Facebook?  I can't say the same about the giftcards, but I can promise you with some pretty awesome status updates.  Bam.

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Monday, August 6, 2012

My Weekend via Instagram

Like I tweeted this morning ....


I mean, is there anything worse than a Monday?  Yes, actually there are a lot of things that are much worse, but Mondays are certainly not on the top of my list of favorite things and if I could, I'd wear this shirt to work every Monday.  Unfortunately, I think I'd be sent home immediately. 
I stole this pic from my girl K_Stets from Only In Vegas 

If you follow me on Instagram (@TheBargainBlonde), then sorry for the replay because I pretty much post my every move on there.  I actually think I've developed a bit of an Instagram addiction and I am seriously considering starting a Insta-detox.  In fact, my friend Beth tweeted me this picture below last week and I could not stop laughing. This is so me. 
Except insert Bear in place of the cat.
Exhibit A: 
Bear and my Subway sandwich Friday night. 
Friday night I actually did nothing. Well, I fell asleep after work and slept until 10 p.m. if that counts as something. Those "you can sleep when your dead" folks have never had a good nap. I love me some naps.

Saturday I woke up refreshed and a Stella and Dot delivery was sitting on my porch. 
Left to right: Leona Pendant (on sale)  /  Signature Clover Necklace (as seen in Cosmopolitan)  /  Capri Chandelier Earrings (as seen on Emily Maynard)  /  Foundation Bracelet Red  /  Foundation Bracelet Turquoise  

Saturday morning I took Bear to the dog park and then cleaned my house.  Here he is passed out after running around in 100 degree temps / My Emi-Jay Hair tie, which def works and did not leave creases in my hair.
Saturday I went to dinner at an Italian restaurant called Patrizios with a few girls.  I wore my new clover necklace and definitely splurged and had Eggplant Parm, my fave. 

Sunday my friend Kathryn and her husband had a BBQ at their house, so I made cupcakes to bring.  Her favorite colors are orange and green, so orange and green cupcakes she received. 

Snaps from the BBQ:

They smoked ribs and brisket. Oh my word, the meat was sooo good.  They season their meat with a dry rub that they created and now sell.  It's called Chimy's Rub that they named after their pup.  All of our friends are addicted to it, and if you want to try it out, just use the "contact us" link on their Web site and e-mail Kathryn telling her The Bargain Blonde told you to try their rub. She can give you pricing. 

That about sums up my weekend.  How was yours?  

p.s. Tomorrow I'm posting the DIY video that you voted on a few weeks ago! Get excited.

p.p.s. Linking up with the ladies of Weekend Update!
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Thursday, August 2, 2012

Friday Faves!


Hello there!  It's 1 a.m. and I've been watching the Big Brother Live Feeds to see who was going to win the first endurance competition of the season.  Now I'm watching all the strategizing going on.  If you don't watch BB, then I apologize because you have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about. If you do watch BB, how epic was last nights episode? 

Friday Faveeee link-up time! Speaking of linking-up, I am still making my way through the "How I Make That Money, Honey" posts, but I was and still am absolutely enamored with some of your jobs.  And I definitely would switch with some of you if I could! 

Anyway ... here are a few of my faves from the week 

These ladies and their medals

This guy and his grill 

These eye make-up remover sticks, which I've been meaning to tell y'all about for a while. Perfect for touching up smudges under your eyes

My new hair cut ... finally


My new area rug and throw pillows in the living room


Matching coffee cup and nails.  Totally normal. 

 My hipster neph returning after a 9 day vacay!  Most favorite part of my week!

Least fave? This horrendous forecast.
kill me now



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