11 Things With Andrea #4

Oh man. I can’t believe I haven’t done one of these update posts since July. It’s time friends. It’s time. Here are 11 Things that are currently going on with ME…Andrea!

1. I recently had to transition into running indoors because it’s too dark out when I need to run early in the morning and I’m just sick of getting scared of my own shadow…haha anyone else? I love running outside so much more than on a treadmill, but have just accepted that it’s time.

2. I LAUNCHED MY OWN TEE SHIRT LINE! Click here to go check it out and order your very own! There two designs, but many color options and I am just so grateful for all of you who have already ordered one! Remember, my goal with these shirts is to help us redefine the way we view the word beauty and I want you to help me with this project!

3. I have been thrifting a good amount of clothing in the last few months but have been slacking when it comes to accessories, so in the near future I am going to be doing some challenges trying to get out of my comfort zone and find some new stuff!

4. I recently switched up my WHOLE planning system and I’m really excited to share it with you guys once I use it a little longer and make sure I really do love it. If you have been following me for a while you might know that for the last couple of years I have bought MayDesigns books and created my own planners because I can never find what I’m looking for already printed. However, my search may be over! Updates soon!

5. Cookbook recipe testing is back in full swing as bridal season is starting to wind down a little? haha October is my last full month of weddings and I’m excited to have some more weekend time in the near future to devote to fine tuning things.

6. Speaking of bridal season, I am booking for all of the 2020 season and things are filling up quickly! If you or someone you know is getting married and still needs a makeup artist, PLEASE contact me asap!

7. I’m so happy it’s finally fall because I have thrifted some amazing fall layers recently and I’m excited to style them all for you guys! I love layering pieces and wearing oversized items, so fall is the perfect time to play with these trends! It’s also finally chilly enough some days for a blazer moment and you all know how much I love that!

8. I’m headed to Traverse City the first weekend of November with my best friend Margaret for her to show me around her hometown! I am so excited! We are heading to the grand opening event for Poppy Things and I’m so jazzed to meet Chelsey and check out her new space! This will be my first weekend off from weddings in like 3 months, so I couldn’t be more excited to have some run relaxation girl time. I also love visiting new places because I always leave feeling inspired.

9. I have become fully OBSESSED with Beth from B. Jones Style. While her style can be a little more bold than what I typically wear, I am always SO inspired to create and try new styles when I watch her videos and look at her Instagram! If you are curious about thrifting and want more inspiration, I highly recommend checking her out!

10. Fall makes me want to get cozy on the couch, read books and watch movies. What are your current recommendations for both? I’m not much of a TV show watcher but I am obviously excited ‘This is Us’ is back on! I just went to the library and picked up some good reads that I’m excited to get into. This also reminds me that I am due for a Books I’ve Recently Been Reading post, so expect that soon.

11. My Hydroflask has changed my life. There is nothing quite like waking up in the morning super thirsty, picking up a water bottle and hearing the sound of ice still frozen inside. I bring this thing with me EVERYWHERE and even got Mikey hooked on it. This is the one I have and I highly recommend it!

There you have it! 11 Things are done! What is up with you lately? Comment below and let me know!

Have a great day,

Andrea

Disclosure: Amazon links are Amazon Affiliate links meaning that I make a commission off the purchase of the product through my link. I would never recommend a product that I didn't love and all opinions are my own. I am thankful for you choosing to purchase through my links, as it helps me create more content for Andrea Fontana Beauty.

My New Favorite Makeup Brushes (MODA PRO)

Boy am I excited to write this post. You guys know I love to review and test out new beauty related products. When my good friend Jodi asked if I wanted to test out and review the MODA PRO Brushes from Royal & Langnickel Professional Makeup Brushes, I was so excited! (The kit I received is no longer available on the website but my coupon code ANDREAFONTANABEAUTY is good for anything on the site)

I will only use high quality products on my clients, and tools are no exception. The only thing better than discovering new products that I love, is finding ones that I love that are also at a really reasonable price point. Insert Royal & Langnickel.

While I initially noticed three awesome things about the MODA Pro Brushes, I wanted to add them to my kit and come back here to review them for you after I had tested them out for a few weeks at weddings!

The first three things I initially loved about the brushes were:

1. I loved the look. As a working makeup artist, I prefer black on black synthetic brushes because they look the sleekest and cleanest in my kit.

2. I loved the texture on the handle of the brushes because they are comfortable to grip when applying makeup for hours.

3. I love how light they feel. When you’re doing makeup for 7 hours straight, little things like this matter!

After using them for multiple weddings, I can confidently tell you that I reach for these brushes over the other ones in my kit time and time again. They do everything I need them to when I’m working with clients. I need tools that I can rely on and use hundreds of times and these brushes are awesome! I’ve had clients also comment about how soft they feel as well, which makes me really happy.

I’m definitely going to be purchasing more for my kit for the 2020 bridal season and also picking up a set to replace my personal makeup brushes.

If you’d like to try out the MODA Pro brushes from Royal & Langnickel, or any of the other makeup brushes that Royal & Langnickel have created, visit ROYAL & LANGNICKEL PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP BRUSHES and be sure to use the code ANDREAFONTANABEAUTY at checkout to get 10% off your purchase!

Coupon Code for 10% off: ANDREAFONTANABEAUTY

Be sure to share with me if you try any of the brushes out!

Have a great day,

Andrea

Disclaimer: These brushes were gifted to me but all opinions are my own and I am not being paid to post. If you purchase using my code, I do earn a small commission and I appreciate you supporting Andrea Fontana Beauty so I can bring you more content! Thank you!

So You're Getting Married (Part 2): 7 Tips for Future Brides

Now that it’s May, bridal season is upon us and I wanted to take the time to bring you a second part to my really popular post from a few years ago (So You’re Getting Married). Click here to check that one out if you haven’t! That post is centered mostly around makeup and getting ready, but today’s tips are just reminders that I think every bride should read before their big day.

Reminder that while I have never been married or planned my own wedding, I have witnessed great planning, poor planning, and everything in between. This advice comes from my experience working in the wedding industry for 5 years now, but ultimately you know what’s best for you and your future spouse.

1. You’re the only one who knows exactly what’s supposed to happen.

   Guess what. No guest at your wedding will know what your exact thoughts for your cake table are. So if details don’t go exactly according to plan, don’t sweat it! Chances are everyone will still think your day was absolutely spectacular, so don’t get stressed.

2. The people bring the joy.

   Last fall I had the pleasure of doing the makeup for one of my first friends of life, and at her reception, her mother gave one of the best speeches I have ever heard at a wedding. She mentioned that a friend gave her the advice to focus on the fact that while the details can be really special, the people truly bring the joy to the wedding. This may be the only time in your life that all of your favorite people from both sides of your lives will be in one room. That in and of itself is special, so don’t forget it.

3. Choose bridal looks that make you feel like you.

   I can’t recommend enough choosing a bridal look that looks and feels like you. You want your groom to feel like it’s you walking down the aisle, after all he’s marrying you, not some fantasy bridal version of you. You will look at these photos forever, so stick with classic looks that represent the true you. If you don’t like how your hair looks up and never wear it up, don’t choose an updo for your bridal hairstyle. You obviously want to feel special on your wedding day, but in a moment that can feel very surreal, it’s important to love what you see when you look in the mirror. We’ve all had those days when we don’t like our outfit for example, and feel less confident. Don’t let this happen on your wedding day!

4. Stay organized and do a little each week to prevent stress.

   The brides who seem to be the least stressed to me are those who stay organized and do a little bit of wedding planning each week. Obviously if you have a short engagement this might not work for you, but I find that most brides tell me that by making a couple decisions a little at a time, they don’t feel that overwhelmed. I think a lot of wedding planning comes down to what kind of decision maker you are, so lean on those you trust, who are good at it.

5. Stop caring about what other people think or making decisions to please others.

   It’s YOUR wedding day. The day is about you and your partner joining lives together. If you don’t want to do some traditional aspect of a wedding, don’t do it. Your day gets to be as unique as the two of you, so who cares what the people think! If you don’t like the look of a veil, don’t wear one!

6. People just want to have a good time and celebrate you.

   While the details may be really important to you, don’t forget that most people just want to have fun. I say this not to sound like no one cares about the cake topper you chose, but in 20 years, most people will remember whether or not they had a great time at your nuptials.

7. Find a moment while you’re getting ready to just sit and think about the day.

   Most brides tell me that it doesn’t feel like their wedding day, in the mornings when we’re getting ready. I personally love when the bride can find even just 5 minutes to sit and close her eyes and just soak in the moment. It’s a big day and from what I’ve heard, it flies by in the blink of an eye. At the end of the day, you will be marrying the love of your life and I think it’s really important to find a few minutes and sit and reflect on what that feels like. Often times, brides are bombarded with a million questions as they are getting ready so I think this time is sacred and special.

Overall, the most important thing is that you have fun and marry your husband or wife. Try your best to take extra time for self care and remember not to sweat the small stuff. Fill your day with gratitude and I can almost guarantee that you will have the best wedding day EVER!

If you’re a past bride of mine reading this, I hope your marriage has been better than you ever could have imagined so far. Thank you for letting me be a part of your day!

If you’re a future bride of mine reading this, I am so excited to have the honor to do your makeup on your wedding day. You will occupy a special place in my heart forever.

Have fun planning,

Andrea

Photo above is by Ben Ramos Photography.

11 Things With Andrea #2

Let’s just jump right into it!

1. I recently tried Fabletics for the first time and overall I loved my first purchase. I got two pairs of cropped leggings, one full length pair, and a sports bra that zipped up the front. I was really hoping to find a sport’s bra that was thick and good quality (the zipper ones usually are for higher impact sports), but unfortunately the fabric is just too thin to be super supportive. I LOVED the leggings though. The trinity high-waisted leggings are amazing. I highly recommend them. I asked you guys on IG your thoughts on Fabletics and most of you said that it’s not really great for sports bra, but the leggings and tops are awesome! While it is a monthly subscription I don’t think I’ll be purchasing every month (you can skip months), because I’m pretty set with leggings for now!

2. I have been reading a lot recently (I’m on my 6th book for the month if that tells you anything). I did a book post recently (click here to check it out) and I’m excited to have some extra time next week to relax and read because the families I nanny for are on spring break! I picked up ‘The Shape of Water’, ‘Big Little Lies’ and ‘The Devil in the White City’ from the library and you all voted for me to start with ‘Big Little Lies’! I’m excited to read all three of these so make sure to check back in a little while to see my review on them.

3. I currently have a GIVEAWAY going for a $100 Gift Certificate to JORD watches! If you haven’t entered it yet, CLICK HERE to check out the watch I was gifted for Mikey (my sweet watch obsessed other half). You don’t want to miss out on this awesome chance to win! You also get a 10% off code for entering so what do you have to lose?

4. Wedding season begins this Saturday. While I had one wedding in January, this weekend starts the doing something almost every weekend for weddings and I AM SO EXCITED! I love my brides! I only have 2 Saturdays left and many Fridays and Sundays available so if you’re a 2019 bride who still needs a makeup artist, please contact me ASAP! (Click the CONTACT tab in the menu on the left).

5. I’m really excited to be on track to be under $10,000 in debt by my 29th birthday this May (my goal is to be debt free by 30, which I am also on track for)! I know I don’t talk about it a lot on here, but for all of you working your butts off to become debt free, I AM WITH YOU! It’s probably my biggest goal that I’m working towards every day and if you’re also going through it, I know the struggles and tough work it takes. WE CAN DO IT!

6. Please send all Netflix/Hulu/Prime recommendations my way. Like I mentioned before I have spring break coming up and am going to attempt to watch something since I suck at it. Working on learning how to be comfortable being relaxed and lazy, but it’s a process.

7. I’m happy to report my anxiety is much lower than it was in January and February. I know I talked about it a lot on my IG and a little here, but if you don’t see me talking about it as much as I was, just know it is always something I am dealing with and working with. You are not alone. Always message me if you want to talk to someone.

8. I’ve been trying a lot of new to me products from Drunk Elephant, Herbivore Botanicals, Tarte, Mad Hippie, etc and I’m excited to put together a post devoted to what I liked/ didn’t like.

9. Cookbook writing is still coming along well! Every week I feel like I see the vision of my final cookbook becoming a little stronger which is really exciting. To all of you who consistently ask me how it’s going and are as excited as I am…you will NEVER know how much I truly appreciate your support and love. I am writing this cookbook for you and I think you’re going to love it! If you haven’t already signed up for cookbook updates, please click here to be added to my email list!

10. If you’re in the Midwest, you’ve been experiencing some lovely SUN the last few weeks and it’s been AMAZING! Am I the only one who’s always constantly amazed at how much it affects our mood. We are different people when the sun is out and I love it! Spring is my favorite season so I’m excited to return to running outdoors and stopping to check up on all the blooms.

11. If you caught Samin Nosrat’s phenomenal Netflix series, ‘Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat’ you might have checked out her cookbook of the same name. If you checked out her cookbook you probably oo’ed and aaah’ed at the beautiful artwork in it. I preordered these TO DIE FOR prints from the cookbook and if you need some extra kitchen art (I’m planning a beautiful kitchen gallery wall) you NEED to order these prints. They are so inexpensive for what beauty they really are!

12. BONUS: This last one isn’t about me. It’s about you. You’re great. And I hope you’ll keep coming around to read what I write. I still get such amazing messages from you all about how my content is inspiring you and lifting you up and all I can say is, YOU are the one inspiring and lifting me up when you say these things. You are great! Thank you

Have the best weekend you tootie cutie patootie people,

Andrea

Disclosure: Amazon links are Amazon Affiliate links meaning that I make a commission off the purchase of the product through my link. I would never recommend a product that I didn't love and all opinions are my own. I am thankful for you choosing to purchase through my links, as it helps me create more content for Andrea Fontana Beauty.